Echoes of the Invisible movie review 2021

MOVIE TITLE: Echoes of the Invisible

This beautiful documentary is now available on Apple TV and Altavod.

RATING: No rating (Documentary)

LENGTH: 1 hour 46 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

This SXSW winner releases on June 22, 2021, courtesy of Utopia.

This feature documentary turns its lens onto explorers who are pushing the human body and technology beyond known limits in the most extreme environments on Earth. It follows Al Arnold, a blind man running through the deadly deserts of Death Valley; Rachel Sussman, a photographer capturing photographs of the oldest living organisms; Paul Salopek, a journalist walking across the world in the footsteps of the earliest human migrations; and scientists building machines to look back nearly to the beginning of time. These individuals are linked by their search for the fabric of our interconnectedness before it is lost in the noise of our distracted and divided world.

Produced by Jan Cieslikiewicz and Scott Cronan, with cinematography from Steve Elkins, ECHOES OF THE INVISIBLE features original music from Ben Esbach (of The Sugarplastic) and Morgan Henderson (of Fleet Foxes) along with music contributed by Julianna Barwick, Colin Stetson (of Arcade Fire, Tom Waits, The National), Jim O’Rourke (of Sonic Youth), and many others.

THINGS I LIKED:

The introductory scene of the man creating a beautiful piece of art out of tiny colored pieces of sand was so perfect as a symbol of how tiny things, like a grain of sand, can create something beautiful over time. During the course of the film, more images of sand art were used to demonstrate more messages about life.
You get to travel all over the world and even into outer space!
Stunning cinematography. Some of the landscapes look like they’re from other planets!
The is a section in the film where no words are spoken. Subtitles, music, and sounds take you on a spiritual journey of thought.
The original score by Ben Eshbach is lovely and contemplative.

COMMENTS ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTARY:

“ECHOES HAS PLACED ME SOMEWHERE BEYOND WORDS…ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND THINGS I’VE SEEN…SEE THIS FILM FOR IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND FEAR IT PUTS IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE…”

— STEVE KOPIAN | UNSEEN FILMS

“ECHOES GIVES PERSPECTIVE TO THE RELATIVE SMALLNESS AND INSIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF TIME AND SPACE, WHILE STILL GIVING DEPTH OF PURPOSE TO LIFE… EXHILARATING.”

— VAGUE VISAGES

“COULD NOT BE MORE TIMELY…AN UNUSUALLY TRANSFIXING MOVIE…A PATH FORWARD DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES…PERHAPS THE WORLD IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER THE THEMES OF ECHOES OF THE INVISIBLE EVEN MORE STRONGLY DURING THESE QUARANTINE DAYS… ”

— HOLLYWOOD SOAPBOX |

“ECHOES OF THE INVISIBLE IS AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS LOOK AT HUMANITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE WAY THEY INTERACT AND WEAVE IN THESE STORIES…SOME OF THE BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY IN SOME TIME.”

— CLAPPER (UK)

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It wasn’t entirely clear how the main people featured in the documentary were connected. For example, in one scene, Rachel talks about her mother and it shows a picture of Linda. Are they related?

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored.
You see the naked backside of a man.
No profnity.

THEMES:

Time
History
The mystery of our own interconnectedness
Powerful Mother Nature
Stillness and the importance of listening to nature
Relationships
Walking
The inner drive that compels us to do what we do

FUNNY LINES:

None. This is a serious, profound look at life, the world, and our universe.

INTERESTING LINES:

“We live in a very busy world that doesn’t foster silence.” – Linda Lynch (Painter)
“There are hidden links between the major stories of our day that are covered because we simply don’t slow down enough to cover them.” – Paul Salopek (journalist)
“Even though we are part of this giant continuum, it’s actually a reminder to look at the small moments that make up the fabric of the time that we all spend here.” – Rachel Sussman
“I’m not just talking about walking across the world; I’m listening across it.” – Paul Salopek
“If you want to walk quickly, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.” – African proverb
“We’re all walking together into the 21st Century.” – Paul Salopek
“Just because something is really old does not mean it is immortal.” – Rachel Sussman