#Beings

This slow building film explores the strange relationship between three people, as well as their relationship to the spiritual. I found myself pulled into an enveloping mood of inner torture. There is a secret horror film brooding in the background here, thanks to some mysterious characters and an excellent soundtrack, which even includes howling dogs at one point. This creates an interesting cognitive disconnect, as the movie isn't really a horror film in the conventional sense of the genre, but one about the horrors of being in the world, with other beings.

I really loved the slow pacing of the movie, as it was perfect for the type of questions being asked by the film. The camera lingers on the three main characters just long enough to be uncomfortable, then it lingers even longer. This is very much a movie about deep watching, even meditation. I found myself glued to every tiny movement, every twitch, look, and expression on the character's faces for clues into their relationship. The long pauses and silences were very effective at bringing this about, and told more than dialogue would have.

I watched this movie as a poem, a poetic exploration of the irrational forces that drive us, and as such it was very powerful. However, I wish there was more of a balance or contrast in tone. I longed for something pedestrian or inconsequentially human as relief from the heaviness. In a way, its strength may also be its weakness. The movie seemed to have established a mood a little too well, and without any lighter moments, it became one extended musical note, getting more and more intense until the end.

I was quite surprised to find out that this movie had no budget, since it looks and sounds fantastic, and is very well acted. The last scene in particular is gorgeous.

An intimate, voyeuristic and claustrophobic portrayal of the relationship between an epileptic girl, Eva and her boyfriend Teo. After Eva has a seizure in their apartment, Teo throws her out and turns to Eva's best friend Anna. This event triggers a journey of escape into nothingness for all the characters, some emotionally, some literally.

This is not a film that exists only as a straightforward narrative, it's a poetic exploration of Eva's need to escape and her boyfriends guilt and impotent love. #BEINGS says as much in it's pregnant silences and throbbing soundtrack as it does with it's naturalistic dialogue. It leaves you to fill in the meaning between the frames, using lingering static shots and pauses to full effect throughout.

You can feel the difficulty the characters have in connecting with each other, as they stumble emotionally and drift around the edges of each moment. One scene where Teo and Eva tentatively begin to kiss in silence has a real power, they take so long to move in, you hesitate with them, the visceral anticipation is agonising in places. Rather than stuttering your involvement, the pace of the film draws you in, like still waters can transfix you with their beauty, the woven thoughtfulness of each scene is mesmerising and ambiguous enough to allow the viewer to reach their own interpretation of Eva's odyssey.

Ultimately #BEINGS is a rewarding watch, full of subtleties, surprises and layers you won't find in mainstream blockbusters. Solid performances from all the leads help draw you into Eva's journey. A film to watch with others and discuss afterwards, #BEINGS will stay with you.