Film Review: Emotional Destiny Versus Science Debate in ‘I Origins’

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CHICAGO – In the current debate between metaphysical spirituality or intelligent design versus scientific and provable fact, there are demands regarding the religious or metaphysics that do not relate to those facts. What the new film “I Origins” hopes to provide for, is that there is room for both forms of mysticism in our lives, if only the eyes remain open.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

Writer/Director Mike Cahill, in his first film since the transforming “Another Earth” (2011), takes on our ability to remain faithful in a tech-and-science realm, which seems to dispute faith with every passing discovery. By highlighting a research scientist – portrayed with magnificent clarity by Michael Pitt – Cahill brings forth a story that rocks our real world of assumed knowledge. The research scientist is on the edge of a cliff in this drama, and discoveries are made because this time they’re personal.

Ian Gray (Michael Pitt) is a graduate student whose specialty is the evolution study of the human eye. He’s trying to disprove that there is any “intelligent design” or God involved in this evolution. He likes to photograph eyes, as they are as distinct as fingerprints. As he is doing so, while at a party with a lovely woman name Sofi (Astrid Bergés-Frisbey), he is shocked by her eyeball uniqueness into an attraction that turns into an obsession.

Sofi disappears, but a series of unlikely events leads Ian back to her. Sofi believes in God, and constantly reminds Ian of that faith when they reconnect. Tragedy befalls their relationship, and Ian is forced back to the laboratory, with assistants Karen (Brit Marling) and Kenny (Steven Yuen). Seven years go by, and bit-by-bit some strange occurrences are infiltrating their research and discoveries, all leading back to concepts of Sofi.

“I Origins” continues its limited release in Chicago on July 25th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Steven Yuen and Astrid Bergés-Frisbey. Written and directed by Mike Cahill. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “I Origins”

Michael Pitt
Ian Gray (Michael Pitt) Notes His Research in ‘I Origins’
Photo credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “I Origins”

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