The_Death_and_Life_of_Otto_Bloom

<i>The Death and Life of Otto Bloom</i>

The Death and Life of Otto Bloom

2016 Australian film


The Death and Life of Otto Bloom is a 2016 Australian mockumentary drama film written and directed by Cris Jones, starring Xavier Samuel, Rachel Ward and Matilda Brown. The film is produced by Alicia Brown, Mish Armstrong and Melanie Coombs.

Quick Facts The Death and Life of Otto Bloom, Directed by ...

The film had its premiere at, and opened, the 65th Melbourne International Film Festival on 28 July 2016.

Plot

The chronicle of the life and great love of Otto Bloom, an extraordinary man who experiences time in reverse – passing backwards through the years only remembering the future.

Cast

Production

Development

Jones cites Albert Einstein's perspective of time as a source of inspiration for the film, explaining "that the perception we are moving forward through time is an illusion. Time is just another dimension of the physical universe, and every moment is therefore simultaneously real... It was a fascinating idea and a powerful philosophy for me, because there's a lot of consolation that comes with it. I was looking for a story in which you could take this philosophy and a positive message and tell it as a film. The idea of how to do it came several years later."[1]

Filming

The film was shot in January 2016 in and around Melbourne.[2]

Release

The Death and Life of Otto Bloom premiered at, and opened, the 65th Melbourne International Film Festival on 28 July 2016.[3]

Reception

The film holds a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[citation needed][clarification needed]

In her review for the Daily telegraph, Vicky Roach described the film as a "budget time-travelling romance" that "boggles with sheer ingenuity." The Guardian awarded the film 3/5 stars, calling it "refreshingly unpredictable, a particularly pleasing virtue in these dark days of superhero this and sequel that." Craig Mathieson of the Sydney Morning Herald praised the film, stating: "Cris Jones' debut feature is that rare thing: a mock documentary that reaches a genuine emotional depth." In particular, he welcomed Ward's return to screen, writing, "it's a remarkable performance: unassuming but wrenchingly powerful". Sarah Ward of Screen Daily was less impressed, writing "it is never as substantial, involving, or convincing as it aims to be".

Accolades

Jones was posthumously honoured with the Australian Writers' Guild's $10,000 John Hinde Award for Excellence in Science-Fiction Writing in 2017.[4]

More information Award, Category ...

References

  1. Hawker, Philippa (8 July 2016). "The Death And Life Of Otto Bloom to open Melbourne International Film Festival 2016". Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. "Cris Jones on The Death and Life of Otto Bloom". 22 July 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  3. "MIFF 2016 | Opening Night 2016". miff.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016.
  4. "AWG honours sci-fi scribes and Aussie writers win international awards". IF Magazine. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2023.



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