Exit

Exit is one of those movies that is like the proverbial elephant and three blind men. Everyone who watches it will have their own explanation as to what it really means. Perhaps that is the charm of Exit- the fact that it can speak to anyone in a way that is meaningful and inspiring. For me, I think the movie reflects the human desire to transcend life while still alive. In a way it resembles the spiritual traditions of Buddhism and Gnosticism, showing the struggle to find an escape from the rat race and return to a higher state. Those who give up the search seem shattered by their choice, while those who continue the search struggle to keep their faith in the face of wrong turn after wrong turn. We never get to see the what lies on the other side of the 'right door', if there even is one, so all is left to the imagination on that level.

As for the artistic aspect of the movie I think it is masterfully done. Without all of the big budget nonsense of so many modern movies, Exit provides stunning visuals with an almost eerie soundtrack that is a masterpiece unto itself. This is a movie you can watch again and again, discovering subtleties and clues you may have missed before. Stage-worthy acting rounds out this veritable work of cinematic art. Definitely one for my collection!

After first reading about Exit I was intrigued, on paper this was a film that ticked all the boxes for me. I like films that are a diversion from the norm, usually make little sense and keeps you guessing.

I found Exit visually fascinating, the slow swooping shots through the city showing the buildings as a maze and roads as the pathways to a possibly escape. The concept behind the film was simple; most of the best ideas are. The film features a core group of characters using their own techniques to seek out the door to lead to their escape. This for me is where the film falls down. I found the characters stale and uninteresting. There was no plight or consequence for failure. If they want to escape to something better, how bad is their present situation? The film didn't make me route for them or want them to succeed. I felt the characters situations didn't change from the start to the end, there was no journey for either the characters or the audience. Also I feel the whole obsession side to the characters were not explored enough.

In essence a great idea and well shot film with lots of potential let down by poorly written and/or poorly directed characters.

This film remains a highlight for my wife and I from our last three year's of festival-goings.

Exit doesn't have a lot of answers for you. Its characters are on a mission to find something that may not even exist. For me, this story parallels the trials of addiction. It is not necessarily ABOUT addiction, but that is one of the wonders of this film; it compliments whatever you feel it speaks to.

It is written beautifully; most often, these existentialist pieces are needlessly confusing, muddled, and disjointed. Exit follows some nice lines, with well drawn out characters, and while the ideas behind the movie may be very big, the execution of the narrative never overwhelms your ability to follow along and form opinions of what the outcome may be.

Back to addiction. While the door that we search for could be likened to "chasing the Dragon", it can also be compared to the "light at the end of the tunnel", or the escape from addiction. This is what I loved so much, coming from an addiction-riddled personal history. Depending on the character, the viewer, even the current mood, the search becomes almost as important as the end result.

It is really hard to express how much I enjoyed this film without dropping too much information on you. I implore the viewer to just ride along, do not expect any tidy bows or satisfying denouements, just be willing to immerse yourself in a quest, and soak up the stunning camera work, the flawless acting, and the unique and well-shaped characters.

Exit is one of those films that keeps you thinking well after the credits roll. A great opportunity to get some friends together to discuss and debate each and every minute of the film. The acting is top-notch; as soon as it was over, I wanted to know what else the leads had been in.

There is much, MUCH, potential on display here, and I can't wait to see what the writer and director have in store for us!!