Follow the journey of three different women who have one major thing in common: they’re all looking for happiness, a sense of belonging, and purpose. Firstly, there is Natalia (Victoria Haralabidou), a mail-order bride from Siberia. Natalia travels to Aotearoa to marry MacIntosh (Jermaine Clement), and the two hope to launch a cafe at MacIntosh’s petrol station. However, the petrol station is in the middle of nowhere, and creating a stunning cafe seems nearly impossible given the station’s current condition. Intimacy and romance are also an evident concern, especially as MacIntosh has allowed his sister Hilary (Robyn Malcolm) to live with them.
Secondly, we are introduced to a hard-working anaesthetist named Briar (Loren Taylor). While her workload is non-stop and hectic, she finds solace in nightly internet video calls with a man named Tim (Robbie Magasiva). However, Tim is also Briar’s sister’s ex, and the relationship is still a secret from her family. Despite this, they plan a meeting filled with hopes of passion and romance. However, things don’t go as intended after a few unexpected surprises.
Additionally, there’s Faith (played by Elizabeth Hawthorne) and her husband, who own several apartments. While Faith’s husband is away, she receives the sad news that one of the apartments they recently purchased has a deceased tenant inside. Although Faith is completely shocked and puzzled by the news, she begins to feel compassion for the situation and the stranger. Taking it upon herself, Faith embarks on a personal journey to ensure that this stranger is given a proper farewell from the world, regardless of the cost or effort involved.
The Moon Is Upside Down is a mixture of comedy and drama. The first half is filled with many awkward and crude moments, yet the second half and its conclusion are pretty dramatic and heavy. The film is Loren Taylor’s feature-length directorial debut. Taylor also plays the character of Briar in the movie and wrote the story.
The elements of drama in the story work wonderfully here, and the comedic moments are either acceptable or passable. As a story, the film successfully introduces the three main leads well. They all differ from one another, yet there is a minor connection and similarity. As a viewer, you can’t help but be compelled by each of their journeys and desires. You also want to know whether or not each character will have excellent outcomes or more troubling woes. I couldn’t help but wonder if our leads would, at some point, interact with one another by chance.
The main performances are consistently convincing and believable, and the supporting cast has some great moments. I enjoyed the script and performances and everything in these areas felt well-executed. However, I struggled with the pacing and specific outcomes of the stories. I wished certain parts had more information, clarity, and detail. It also took a while to understand how the story would unfold. We were not only introduced to the three main characters but also spent a significant amount of time in their world as they strive to overcome challenges in a chaotic and painful environment that sometimes feels like a bad dream. While the final act had well-acted and dramatic moments, I still longed for a grand finale and closure.
Overall, The Moon Is Upside Down delivers a touching and compelling film with three leads who differ in their current journey and struggles yet all share something. It was acted well, and the dialogue felt raw and realistic. Aspects of comedy didn’t leave a lasting impression so much as the dramatic elements. While some characters get clear conclusions and dramatic scenes, I couldn’t help but want more from the finale, and some details felt unfinished or cruel, leaving viewers hanging without knowing more. It’s worth it for the drama alone and the various surprises that take place unexpectedly along the way, and it’s most certainly a terrific feature-length debut from Loren Taylor.
The Moon is Upside Down (2024) will be screening at BIFF2024! For session times and more information, please check out the link here: https://biff.com.au/
7.3/10
21st October 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
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