The Divide (EIFF)
Another apocalyptic story that was offered this year started with an evacuation of an apartment building. We see fragments of what people are like, making way for others on the staircase, trying to give old people a hand and some just run without any care for others. A hermit of a caretaker played by Michael Biehn leads several people down into the basement for a temporary safety solution and for a brief while you think you know this story and where it is going. There will be alliances as personalities fall out, there will be arguments over what people will want to do about their situation. And to be honest, I’m fine with this formula, simple is enough, less is more.
Instead the film is turned up to such an extent that all assumptions we were making with characters we were getting acquainted with are shifted to such drastic lengths after the first fifteen minutes and it is for the worst as no singular person seems to be likeable. They all just drift into a pathetic state of squalor and desperateness and no real sympathy can be mustered up for them.
Despite in the beginning of the film, there is some curiosity to discover what cause to the ‘apocalypse’ is, all interest is lost in this and from there it then seems that the film has no destination point but just a vicious circle of the same problems as the temporary hideout is abandoned and the ‘leaders’ of the group decide to stay put in the small, suffocating basement. I mean, it so obviously jumps out as long-term stay, why wouldn’t you just want to stay there forever?
And that’s what this film feels like, forever. But thankfully it does end.
In comparison to Phase 7 which was seen earlier in the festival: Phase 7 is far far far superior.