Review of Upstream Color (2013) by Dave N — 09 Jun 2013

Upstream Color is directed by Shane Carruth who wowed audiences in his 2004 indie film Primer. I'm yet to watch that film but many fans have called this a disappointment. For myself it reached my set expectation, and while for awhile I expected the movie to go beyond, it remained.

This is one of the early arthouse avant-grande films of the year. It mixes a sci-fi with romance, and never goes to extreme on either side. The film is extremely symbolic, especially shown when referring to drug addiction/use.

I caught most of the ideas and symbolism in the first thirty minutes (which for most was probably the most confusing) but after that the film started losing me. The motifs of this film are pigs and nature.

Pigs are the symbol for nature in this film, and what seems to be suggested by the ending is to go back to nature. I doubt anyone could watch this and never be confused by it, this is a highly psychological film with a deep concept.

The first 30 minutes were a huge grasp for me, and I thought this was going to be an all around brilliant film, while the rest of the movie closer resembles my rating, this was a solid sophomore film effort.