On a planet where only women can survive, a young lady and her mother go on a punitive journey through the land to find a mysterious woman.
Written and directed by Bertrand Mandico, this film is an odd world of Julia Margaret Cameron still images of a world filled with blues and greens, filled with women who do not have to worry about the male gaze, a world that is very much its own. The writing here good, but it’s not the main thing to this film. The directing and the mood of the film are much more important. This film is more like an experience than a story to follow. It has a lot to offer visually and in how it’s all brought to the screen. The story is good, don’t get things wrong here, but it feels almost like an excuse to create the universe here and make it what it is.
The cast is really strong here, giving performances that are dreamlike, that are a bit like a fairytale of sorts. The work by Paula Luna as Roxy is fantastic here, she carries the first part of the film and shows that she’s very much able to get into a character 110%. Next to her, only Elina Löwensohn steals scenes from her as her mother Zora in the second half of the film. It’s fantastic to see Löwensohn in this role and see her do her best ethereal performance in a long while. She’s something else here and her fans are going to be oh so very happy. The rest of the cast is almost 100% female which makes sense with the film and its story. This cast is strong all around, giving performances that fit the setting and story.
A big part of this film’s appeal is its look, its mood, its atmosphere, and these are very much thanks to the cinematography by Pascale Granel. Their work here is beautiful and the soft focus a la Julia Margaret Cameron is just perfect for the film. The work here is both soft and direct, showing everything and yet feeling like it’s putting a veil on things. Their camera work is stunning here and something that is so right for the film, it becomes one with the characters and the story.
After Blue (Dirty Paradise) is a film with a lot to think about in its story and within its themes. The story almost gets overshadowed by the mood created, by the images, by the feelings shown. The performances are solid and the cinematography is incredible.
After Blue (Dirty Paradise) comes out in June 3rd, 2022 from Altered Innocence.