Review of Perfect Sense (2011) by Richard L — 17 Mar 2015

This is how you tell a personal story set against the apparent end of the world. Eva Green as the epidemiologist Susan returns to work after a nasty breakup just as patients begin reporting a loss of smell. This loss of smell occurs after an emotional breakdown due to grief that lasts several hours. Susan meets Michael, a chef played by Ewan McGregor, just before they too succumb to the new disease.

Without a sense of smell, the world adapts, beginning to value other senses and sensations. Unfortunately, the epidemic is just getting started, even as Susan and Michael begin to fall in love.

What works so well in this movie is the sense of what is lost. This works on both a personal and global level, depicted within Susan and Michael's relationship and footage from around the world as various societies try to deal with the consequences.

Even though what happens next is predictable, the movie succeeds because the viewers quickly grows to care about the slightly damaged couple at the center of the story. The disease and the way it manifests leads to some pretty heartbreaking moments in the movie, but also hopeful moments.

At this point it is redundant to remark about how amazing and talented Eva Green and Ewan McGregor are. Together, they are pure magic. Thank goodness they are in a beautiful movie that takes good advantage of their talent.