The Other Me is unafraid to prominently use executive producer David Lynch’s name. Some may even argue that the twisting dreamlike narrative would even fit on the director’s resume. The story is about a would-be architect named Irakli (Jim Sturgess) who discovers he is going blind. He soon meets a mysterious woman (Andreja Pejic) who captivates him. It is not long before his life and the ones’ of those around him are thrown into chaos.
The camerawork works hand in glove with the plot. The opening seconds are shot with almost a shallow focus. The background appears blurred while the characters drag across the screen as if in slow motion. This extends to the lighting in The Other Me. It is subtle, but there are moments when a room will get slightly darker before heading into a new scene. The camera seems to be mimicking the disease that Irakli has.
The Other Me often contrasts colorful set pieces with ones that have a more minimalist look. Even though it is alive and full of life, the city is drab. The flat Irakli shares with his wife (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) is simply a living quarters while the doctor’s office is especially antiseptic in appearance. The forests and meadows look lovely, but life also moves at a slower pace. There is a clear delineation between the bustle of city life and how the peace one is able to find in solitude.
Sexual tension flows throughout the story. The most obvious is between Irakli and the woman he meets, but other scenes involving different characters also have the feeling. The Other Me is not an erotic story, however. Writer-director Giga Agladze has crafted a tale that is rife with sexuality, but does not depend on it. How integral it is to the plot an be debated, but the feeling is always there.
Despite its seemingly simple premise, there is a lot to The Other Me. This includes an overabundance of characters and some subplots that mean little to the overall plot. At its core, there is a fascinating tale about discovery, but there is a lot of going happening around the edges, also. The story encourages repeat viewings; it is unfortunate the movie does not.
The Other Me comes to select theaters and digital platforms February 4
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