The Future - DVD

Film: Cat Paw Paw is happy. That's because a young couple have decided to adopt the injured animal, saving it from being safely put down. Sophie (Miranda July) and Jason (Hamish Linklater), a couple around 30, have decided to give the cat a pleasant retirement. In doing so, the pair hope to bring new meaning to their daily lives, which are dominated by boredom and habit. But when they learn that Paw Paw could well live for a few more years if well cared for, the couple start to feel overwhelmed by the new situation. And so they plan to use the 30 days they have left before they take the cat to live with them to make their perpetually postponed dreams come true. They quit their boring jobs, log off the internet and now want to totally transform their lives. But after only a few days the two have to realize that they are not at all prepared for what life outside their previous safety zone offers them - and this not only has dramatic consequences for their relationship, but also for cat Paws...

The Future is a film that divides opinions. After just a few minutes, it's clear that you either love this movie, or are highly annoyed by it. For some it is an original comedy, which draws a sensitive portrait of the generation 30+ in a sometimes endearingly playful, then again in an astonishingly tragic way and skilfully avoids the conventions of mainstream cinema. For others, elements like the bizarre voice of cat Paw Paw (also voiced by Miranda July in the original) or Sophie's very peculiar dance performances turn the film into a cramped piece of art cinema striving for originality, in which two unsympathetic hipsters with their completely ego-centered behavior get annoyed by a completely pointless plot. Its very particular style and Miranda July's somewhat habit-forming way of telling her story are just extremely polarizing, which makes this film very special - whether you like it or not.

As much as The Future may divide its audience, at least one thing can be said with certainty: July's second feature no longer possesses the endearingly naive charm and associated joie de vivre that I and You and Everyone We Know exuded. The ending in particular is considerably darker and more pessimistic, although once again the production's very special ingenuity prevents the viewer from leaving the story depressed. However, July makes up for the loss of her first film's light-heartedness with a very poetic last third, in which the film imaginatively suspends the laws of space and time.

Those who can relate to the story and its unusual staging will surely discover the beauty in what Miranda July has served up here. If you don't, however, this arthouse tragi-comedy will quickly become a pain in the neck. But especially viewers who liked Me and You and Everyone We Know should dare to this unusual film - maybe you will be really positively surprised!

Picture + Sound: In many scenes, the detail sharpness is at a good level, the contrasts, on the other hand, sometimes fall out a little weak. The color scheme is very coherent over long stretches and overall the very clean picture leaves an absolutely decent impression. The audio remains largely restrained, as was to be expected from a rather quiet film like this, with the dialogue and subtle music taking centre stage. Good!

Extras: Bonus features include a making of (approx. 15 mins) that is well worth watching, as well as a cut scene that viewers who liked the film will certainly enjoy. In addition to the trailer for the film, the DVD also has an audio commentary by the director. This has some interesting and amusing moments to offer in addition to a few distinct pauses, but does not have subtitles and therefore can only be enjoyed by interested viewers who are proficient in English.

Conclusion: The Future is one of those rare instances where it takes the first two minutes to decide whether or not you like the film. Miranda July quickly shows her audience where the journey is headed - not necessarily dramaturgically, but at least in terms of her mise-en-scène. And you either find it quite charming and wonderful, or just awful. There's not much room in between. The tragicomedy is well realized on DVD, the bonus material is worth seeing and especially the unfortunately not subtitled audio commentary makes clear how much the filmmaker/lead actress cared about this project. Highly recommended for lovers of exceptional arthouse fare who are not easily put off by bizarre elements!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp