Vesper Chronicles

In a bleak dystopian world, a thirteen year old girl must survive in a world where citadels containing powerful oligarchs live, controlling the seeds that provide food supplies for those struggling outside on the planet. A smart cookie, she has a number of special skills including an understanding of bio-hacking which she must make use of if she is to beat her power crazy uncle, the excellent Eddie Marsan, the oligarchs and keep her father, who operates through a floating android, alive.

Whilst it could be argued that this intelligent almost evangelical sci-fi thriller suffers slightly through lack of budget, it's effects are sparingly used and are all the more impressive because of it. The performances, particularly from the young girl, Raffiella Chapman are strong, but the most impressive element is the clever mix of intelligent and convincing sci-fi ideas. A wildly over the top Hollywood sci-fi epic remake will surely follow.

Vesper is a very special film. The sort of sci-fi you rarely see - one with heart, meaning, social conscience and an important message about earths future wrapped in emotional drama, stunning visuals and originality aplenty.

At the centre is Vesper herself and the whole movie hinges on the shoulders of its thirteen year old star. Raffiella Chapman turns in a nuanced performance at once both the brave heroine and fragile child. It is so accomplished a performance it's hard to believe this young actor was indeed just thirteen at the time of filming.

There is a wonderful scene where Vesper forgets her adult responsibilities and howls like a wolf with all the vigour and lack of self consciousness of a child and it's both poignant and incredibly emotional. Moments like this might feel out of place to sci-fan fans used to the action obsessed Hollywood mainstay of the genre but it is these unusual touches that make this film so unique.

Eddie Marsan is wonderful as Vesper's sinister uncle and Richard Brake terrific as Vespers ailing father, his voice given life within a drone in yet another original touch.

I've never seen anything quite like Vesper and the incredible imagery and performances will stay with me a long time. If you like your sci-fi cerebral and challenging with superb characters and world building then this is a must watch. 10/10.

This was a very refreshing movie to experience. It felt like true sci-fi. I don't know what that means exactly, lol, but watch the flick and see if you agree. The acting was great, The world building was awesome. It felt like something that could actually happen with little imagination leaping. The science and technology portrayed in the move were cool and relatively unique. The dystopian elements were captivating, leaving me thinking about it a bit, and the scenes were not overly artistic or trying too hard. Overall, it was a gem with a fresh perspective from typical Hollywood. It focused on the story, featured great effects, and presented innovative ideas while avoiding the typical clichés we often see in movies today. If you like sci-fi in general, I'd say give it a go!

I don't want to spoil anything so I will not even mention anything negative.

I thought it was very good, visually, storytelling and sci-fi wise. The lead young actress did a fantastic job, as did the more supporting roles. I also got a very positive feeling of synergy from the movie Brazil. Not the story or plot but more the design of things.

Some reviews mentioned they wanted more of the world- or back-story. I thought it was about perfectly delivered. Sketched in enough that you can imagine and wonder about it but not heavy-handed.

Other mentioned it is slow and I could see ppl. Thinking that in some cases. However I did not think any of it was filler or just padding out for any reason. Every slow and artsy sort of shot tells you something about the story world. And was very pretty or at least carefully presented in disgusting detail.

Perfect? Nah - but yea it's well worth a watch, IMO.

We were able to view this movie on DVD from our public library. The time period is unspecified but it would have to be rather far into the future for the technology shown and the mutations of plant species.

It would be hard to say this movie is enjoyable, most of it is filmed in muddy, dreary conditions. Only during the last scene are we shown a bit more light and color. I enjoyed the movie, but when it was over my wife said "Well that was wasted time." So it certainly depends greatly on the viewer.

The main character is Vesper, a 13-yr-old girl played by Raffiella Chapman. And I must say she is quite remarkable in the role. I just remarked. The way she looks and the way she dressed some may wonder "Is she really a boy?" But viewing the DVD extras, where she is pretty and smiling we can see she is indeed a very nicely attractive and smart girl.

In a great sense the story is simply about companionship during a very difficult time, and hope for some better type of future. To do in the moment what you can instead of lamenting your situation. Vesper is smart and inventive, and must take care of her bed-ridden dad, who communicates with her via the drone that follows her around. She does experiments, she hopes to be accepted at the Citadel where the wealthy and powerful reside. But that seems like a very long shot.

But it all ends without a definitive conclusion, perhaps there will be a sequel. Or a made for TV limited series.