By Michael Colford
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Andrew Sullivan | Geoffrey Orthwein
Starring: Maika Monroe | Matt O'Leary
Country: iceland, united_states
Year: 2017
Running time: 92
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3722062/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Michael says: “Tonight’s fascinating film is called BOKEH, an Icelandic indie that takes gorgeous advantage of that island-countries primordial, pastoral landscapes and otherworldly qualities. A young couple, Riley and Jenai, who are on holiday from the States are enjoying a fun and beautiful adventure until Jenai wakes up in the wee hours of the morning and experiences an unearthly flash of light in the sky. When the couple awake the next morning, they are flummoxed to find all the people have vanished. Confusion turns to disbelief when they can’t reach their families back home, television stations slowly start to fade out, the internet seems caught in stasis from the day before, and it seems that they might be the last people on earth. They are even more flummoxed by the lack of bodies or any other evidence that humans ever existed with them.
“What follows is a character study on how different people might cope with isolation. After the initial confusion, the pair go through a brief period of adventurous hedonism; they’re the last people on earth, they can take whatever they want from stores, drink whatever they want in restaurants, drive whatever care they want, live in any house they choose. When that novelty begins to wear off they take to sight seeing; Riley embracing this newfound freedom and the prospect of living live unconventionally without social mores to guide him with, if not delight, with relish. Jenai becomes existential; seeking answers that aren’t there, and trying to understand what this means. All she really wants is to go home, but that is denied to her; trapped as they are on an island country.
“The final third of the film takes a dark turn and brings the two engaging characters to surprising heights and devastating lows. Maika Monroe and Matt O’Leary are appealing and engaging leads; taking their slightly underdeveloped characters and imbuing them with feeling and personality. First time feature filmmakers Geoffrey Orthwein and Andrew Sullivan capture the beauty and alien quality of Iceland to good effect, and provide a high-gloss, yet mysterious backdrop to the mysterious adventure facing the two characters. When it all winds down (and there is an alternative ending provided on the DVD) some may scratch their heads and say, WTF? Others may find the film depressing. I found it interesting, and challenging without being obtuse. A worthy effort and a strong film. 4 cats”