Shadows on the Wall | Arthouse Films

Shadows off the beaten path
Indies, foreigns, docs and shorts...

On this page: APRIL X

< < I N D I E S

See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 17.Jun.26

April X
Review by Rich Cline | 4/5

dir Michel K Parandi
scr Michel K Parandi, Jack Coulton
prd Lavinia Postolache, Michel K Parandi
with Lilly Krug, Connor Storrie, Tudor Chirila, Serban Pavlu, Tourialay Akbari, Marius Chivu, Lavinia Postolache, Iulian Postelnicu, Dan Ursu, Berite Labelle, Andreea Vasile, Lottie Moss
release US Aug.25 friff,
UK Jun.26 rff
25/US 1h36

Is it streaming?

Filmed in Romania, this near-future thriller is shot in strikingly colourful wide-screen with a sharp, charismatic cast. First-time feature filmmaker Michel Parandi gives the movie a remarkably grisly, menacing tone that grabs the attention, although the storytelling approach is rather simple and enigmatic, which is a little frustrating. Still, the imagery cleverly echoes Blade Runner's rainy, neon-drenched streets and its human identity premise. But it feels even darker.

In Eastern Europe, Baxter (Storrie) is staying his playful twin sister April (Krug), while he and Ronny (Akbari) sell synthetic organs to mob boss Klein (Pavlu). But their deal turns sour, leaving Bax in a pinch. Then April mysteriously disappears. Five years later, Bax is working as Klein's driver when he runs into Ronny, who tells him that April is back on the scene. But what Bax does next puts him in the crosshairs of the vicious Tetris (Chirila), who runs a network of cloned prostitutes. Could one of these be the real April?

Bax narrates the film in a growly noir style, noting that authenticity has died in this society, because cloning has become a thorny moral issue. And he's thrown because he sees April everywhere. Other technological details include swarms of drones and a machine April uses to record and archive her dreams, creating a collection that is much in demand. By contrast, Bax's memories are a jumbled mess.

The very occasional moment of lightness offers some earthy insight into characters who are otherwise deadly serious. Storrie has a strongly likeable steeliness that lets us identify with Bax in a complex predicament. Especially strong is how incomplete he feels without his twin. Krug has terrific presence as April, a smart young woman who has curated her own identity. And she gets to play with this role as clones variations. Other roles are vividly adversarial.

Parandi takes a bold approach to this story, leaning into the post-Soviet settings while filling scenes with clever flourishes, including subtle digital effects. It's skilfully shot, edited and scored to ramp up the tension, giving the film a beefy sheen that makes the very most of a limited budget. The story kind of stalls in the final act, growing mopey and rather extremely bleak. But there are fascinating ideas scattered throughout the film that catch the imagination.

themes, language,violence, sexuality 16.Jun.26

< < I N D I E S
See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL