User Reviews

This is a great story that put into perspective our excesses, prejudice but also our ability care for others.

It is interesting to look at the contrast of what is "Right" and standing up for your idea of right. Two opposing view points, where one seems to be just trying to have a chance at a better life, where the other feels the outsider is an invader, interfering with their way of life.

I absolutely love the perspective of what constitutes wealth and value.

I'm looking forward to more stories from Anika Films.

"Rewinder" opens in an apocalyptic world where almost no water exists. People are lining up with their most valuable possessions for the possibility of the only way out: becoming a rewinder. This means travelling back in time where there's plenty of water to waste. The audience follows the journey of a young man on his search for this precious thirst quencher.

The director, Jean-Luc Julien, touches upon a very fascinating and multifaceted issue. The parallels to today's problems, especially the contemporary refugee crises, seem obvious. Instead of fleeing from one country to another, "returnees" are escaping a specific time of chaos. Similarly, they are not welcomed with open arms, but are feared and held responsible for the problems to come.

Unfortunately, some details keep the fictional universe from being conceivable. While the leading actors do a great job, some of the supporting actors aren't very convincing. Other problems can be seen in the substantial implementations of the futuristic world. The main character, for instance, isn't distinguishable from the world of today. His clothes, hairstyle and language don't make his origin, nor him being a target of racism, believable. But this is only a minor problem preventing the total immersion into the story.

Even though it's very difficult to cover this complex topic in such a short amount of time, the film clearly shows its strength in other areas. The plot succeeds in staying straight-forward and effective. And although budget-related deficiencies are notable in the time traveling scene, the available budget is sufficient and very well implemented. The viewer understands the tension of the situations without straining to see any special effects.

Ultimately, many questions remain. The ending leaves behind the pressing desire for greater elaboration of some details, for example what the protagonist's main motivation is. Does he just want to live a carefree life, or does he travel back in time to change the world? And how does humanity cope with the prospect of this catastrophe? When the closing credits start rolling the disappointment is that there isn't more to watch. This could be seen as a strength of the main idea, which definitely has potential for a compelling feature film.