Foe

It's 2065. Water is scarced. People are moving to space. Hen (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal) live on his farm which his family has owned for five generations. Farming is a struggle and he works at a chicken factory. There is tension in the marriage. Out of the blue, Terrance (Aaron Pierre) comes to their door. He's recruiting for space pioneers and maybe do a little threatening on top of that.

There is an interesting sci-fi concept and an intriguing reveal somewhere in this movie. I can't buy the undercooked sci-fi concept. As a mystery, the movie is holding back a few pieces in the puzzle and the audience is kept waiting. The terrific pairing of Mescal and Ronan is giving it their all, but the movie keeps going in circles. The surrealism mounts until the movie goes down the drain.

This is not a typical sci-fi, which may account for the low ratings. It's a relationship drama initiated by a futuristic premise. I did read several negative reviews but decided to give it a shot anyway. 30 minutes in, I was hooked. The plotting might come across as slow and the dialogue cumbersome until everything is revealed, but then it all fits together and Prima facie assumptions crumble. The art is not in the unsurprising plot "twist" but in how all of the scenes that precede it build to that moment. I'll definitely be watching it again with open eyes directed to the execution of the story.

Yes, like others mentioned before, the plot is quite nonsense and it bothers. It would definitely be much better If there was no space context or AI involved.

So don't watch this for the sake of being entertained.

Nevertheless, watch this if and when you're up to getting introspective, or reflect on your relationships. I thought it was provocative, and it leaves you thinking of how much we change overtime, and also, how much we idealize or come up with excuses for our partners behaviors - maybe in an attempt to sooth us down - when the reality is much uglier. And there's Paul mescal, and that alone is a reason to give it a go.

This slow burn science fiction is set in 2065, when Earth's climate has deteriorated to the point that water is scarce and little grows. Hen and her husband, Junior, live in a remote farm house that has been in his family for several generations. Life isn't easy but they get by. One day a stranger, Terrance, comes to their door telling them about a lottery where those with certain skills are being selected to work in a new orbital space station... Junior is a candidate for selection. Sometime later he returns and tells them Junior has been selected, and has no choice about going. To make life easier for Hen Junior will be replaced by a synthetic A. I. replica. To ensure it is as real as possible Terrence stays with them to learn all about their relationship a process that might strain it.

I'm not all that surprised that this film isn't rated higher; it had the feel of a film that people would really like or really dislike. Thankfully for me I really enjoyed it. The premise is fairly simple and the twists weren't too surprising but it kept me gripped from start to finish. It is very much a character led film and thanks to superb acting from Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal as Hen and Junior I believed in their relationship with its various ups and downs. Aaron Pierre also impresses as Terrance, the character that serves as the catalyst for most of what happens. The setting adds to the atmosphere; even though we see our leads working with other people their home feels incredibly isolated. Overall I'd say this certainly won't be for everybody but if you enjoy character led science fiction it is definitely worth giving a go.

In short, slow, boring, disappointing, well made, well acted with some lovely cinematography. The central story concept is great although never fully explored. The sci fi element of the story is an irrelevance.

Around the 50 minutes mark if started to become a slog to listen to naval gazing of the lead actors. The pace of the movie is quite languid which normally I don't mind.

There just seems to be so many plot points raised that are just never followed up on, how did they end up on the list? The film suggests that that Ronan's character puts her husbands name in the hat. Why does a cross section of society need to be sent away to space when clearly Paul Mescals character seems mentally unwell. How would he surviv3 in space? Why does a stranger from the government have live with them in a creepy, passive aggressive style?

You can definitely make a more compelling movie with these ingredients, but this film is not it.