A journey through the desert can be harrowing, daunting, even deadly, but for a young couple, their journey through the desert will prove to be something far different. This couple, as they travel the seemingly never-ending heat of this secluded desert, they discover something–themselves. This adventure quickly turns into something of self-discovery, self-understanding, and self-appreciation. Monolethea will take viewers on an experimental and trippy journey that will allow them to look inward, evaluate themselves, and find who and what they truly are.
There’s no telling what each viewer will take away from Monolethea, as it will reach each and every viewer in a different way. The film is interestingly individualized, and each viewer will be able to take something unique away–but there’s a message present throughout this film that I think everyone needs to hear and understand.
I think what Monolethea is doing is begging viewers to let go of their past failures, move on from the hardships that have previously befallen them, and understand that what lies ahead is most important. Human beings have a tendency to harp on the past, unable to move forward without holding on, so tightly, to everything that has come before–but that can sometimes hinder our progress. Directors Apostoly Peter Kouroumalis and Helen Tzoutis beg their audience to understand that sometimes moving on is the best thing to do.
While there are messages to be found within the narrative, the success of Monolethea rests on the shoulders of the couple wandering the desert, looking for answers. There are two tones present in Monolethea, and each plays an equally monumental role in the film. Those tones are hopelessness and optimism. The two compete with one another, each making their way to the forefront of the film repeatedly, begging viewers to see the relevance in the film–but without the film’s leads, the messages and the all-important juxtaposition in tone would fail to reach viewers. Those individuals do a phenomenal job of expressing to viewers the hardship present in their peregrination, while, in the same breath allowing viewers to see the lightheartedness that exists within them. They are the key to Monolethea’s success, and they deliver brilliantly throughout the story–even when so much is asked of them.
In typical Kouroumalis fashion, Monolethea is a film full of ever-changing visuals and a challenging narrative. What’s great about a film like this is the fact that it begs viewers to dive deeper–that’s not only beneficial to viewers, but to the film and its team as a whole. Forcing viewers to look within themselves is important to the film, but forcing them to dissect every intricacy of Monolethea is as well. As viewers attempt to understand the entirety of the film, the pieces of the puzzle come together and they present viewers with something seemingly magical–but even better, brilliantly relevant. Viewers are able to appreciate the acting, cinematography, lighting, narrative, and every other piece of Monolethea. While the film isn’t fun–it’s fun (if that makes any sense). It’s fun to see our feelings represented on screen in such a vivid and passionate way–even if the journey is clearly challenging (and as a result not what the average viewer would consider a “fun” journey).
Monolethea is well-developed, relevant, and ultimately important. It pulls aspects from various walks of life, and while it’s certainly crowded, it’s never too much to handle. Through the acting and the montage of visuals, Monolethea presents viewers with something special–a truly brilliant imagining of the painful but promising world in which we live.
Directed by Apostoly Peter Kouroumalis & Helen Tzoutis.
Starring Eric Heroux & Genevieve Guay Disalvo.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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