2022 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Solomon (Jorge Antonio Guerrero) and Chuyao (Xingchen Lyu) are outsiders of American culture. They are outsiders in their own neighborhoods. But even worse, they are outsiders in their own families. Both Solomon and Chuyao believe that UFOs are real and that there is much to be discovered about them. The two come together to form an unlikely bond, and on their journey for the truth about UFOs they beg the rest of the world to understand that We Are Living Things.
We Are Living Things is twisted, sometimes to a point where it doesn’t necessarily make sense. It took some time, nearly forty minutes, for me to follow what was occurring during the film, and the lull at the start of the film is a massive turn off. As the story slowly develops, but veers from what viewers expected it to be, it’s almost as if it begs viewers to look away–as nearly nothing about We Are Living Things’ opening act is captivating.
I struggled to appreciate portions of the film as a result of the darkness that exists throughout. There are instances when the film is so physically dark that it’s impossible to see what is occurring. It seems, based on dialogue, that these moments are of immense importance, but through struggling cinematography darkness absorbs and ultimately devours any momentum that We Are Living Things has. The sad reality is that as a result of the darker scenes, what eventually begins to develop during the second act of We Are Living Things is halted, stolen from the grasp of the writers and director–and it doesn’t seem that the film ever fully recovers from these issues.
Human emotion is the driving force behind all that is being said and done in We Are Living Things. It’s clear from the opening moments that both Solomon and Chuyao struggle with their emotions and that their lives are difficult. This is the aspect of We Are Living Things that resonates with me, allowing me to form some connection with the film; but better yet, it’s the reason that the film finds some success. We Are Living Things is a difficult film to get through, that’s just an unhappy fact, but the saving grace is the human emotion that plays a pivotal role in the story of Chuyao and Solomon. The two are clearly from different walks of life, but relatable in the sense that life hasn’t been good to them–and there’s a sense of understanding and honesty present in their journey that viewers are able to appreciate. Again, much of that emotion stems from the relatability of the film’s two lead characters (minus, you know, the UFO aspect). However, that emotion wouldn’t reach viewers in the same fashion without the talents of Lyu and Guerrero.
The two young actors are brilliant in their portrayal of their characters. Even in the dullest moments of We Are Living Things the two shine brightly, always able to convey emotion with great aplomb. Beyond their acting abilities, there is a clear chemistry that exists between the two, and that chemistry allows tension, dysfunction, passion, and hope to rise to the surface and touch viewers.
We Are Living Things is somewhat troublesome to watch, as the film possesses wonderful aspects like the acting and ever-present emotion, but fails visually and narratively. It takes a long time for We Are Living Things to develop, and the incredibly slow start effectively hinders the remainder of the film. There is so much potential present in Antonio Tibaldi’s film, but it never quite reaches that potential, even if there are some incredible things to appreciate.
Directed by Antonio Tibaldi.
Written by Alex Lora & Antonio Tibaldi.
Starring Jorge Antonio Guerrero, Xingchen Lyu, Zao Wang, O-Lan Jones, Paul Cooper, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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