Take a deep breath.  Relax.  Now let me give you two completely different premises. 

      A young girl, just out of high school is accepted to the very prestigious organization known as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Her whole life she’s been enamored with the stars, the planets and the galaxies of the universe.  All of her dreams have seemingly come true.  To celebrate she has a few drinks with friends; although underage, this victory almost legitimizes the small indiscretion.  On her peaceful ride home she is distracted by a local radio station and ruins not only her life but the lives of four others; innocents whom just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

      A second premise. SETI, the institute for the search for extra terrestrial life, discovers a new planet, capable of sustaining life orbiting closer and closer to our own blue sphere.  As the years go by, it becomes clear that everything about this planet, the land masses, the environment, even the cities on its surface are identical to our own.  In fact, it is discovered that there is a duplicate of every human being on the second earth.  What would happen if the two meet?  What would you ask yourself?

      Mike Cahill’s most recent directorial effort, Another Earth, is a miraculous merging of this two very disparate concepts.  Much more relationship drama than science fiction film, both sub genres only benefit from their unlikely joining. 

      The previously mentioned girl, Rhoda, recently out of jail, attempts to apologize to the man who has lost everything because of her.  In a moment of weakness, Rhoda fakes being a maid offering John, the man, a free trial cleaning.  What follows is an unconventional relationship between the two.  John, aching for happiness and companionship; and Rhoda metaphorically and literally cleaning up after her mess.

      What follows is a lite sci-fi picture with a heavy emphasis on relationship drama.  Both actors dominate in their roles and completely commit to the film.  When they hurt you feel hurt and when they play you join in their euphoria.  It’s a complex tale, with the concept of a duplicate earth looming over both of them, literally.

      I can’t recommend Another Earth enough.  This is what happens when independent filmmaking lands on its feet.  Last night I had the pleasure of attending an early screening with co-star and director in attendance.  Although the two of them now had a picture officially picked up by Fox Searchlight, they both still held on to their independent ideals.  Brit and Mike were thrilled to talk with us and participated in a fairly lenghty question and answer session after the film.  They seemed like real people, they connected with the audience and didn’t reek of Hollywood corruption like many independent filmmakers who are finally recognized.  If these two hold on to even a shred of the decency and humbleness they exhibited last night, the world as just gained a powerful duo of original thought and vision.  It’s been a long time since a film made me think as much as Another Earth did last night.  I’m talking to you, Bay.

      Do yourself a monumental favor and go see Another Earth when it’s released later this month.  It’s about time we acknowledge the brilliance and originality of independent filmmaking.  July 22nd is your chance. 87