Nice, down-to-Earth, thinking person's, short flic. Too easy to criticize skittish "restarts" or "retries" of the same opening scene, like young actors practising in "twos" at drama-school, seeking that internalized "persona". But it's not an improvised script, since it's too lucid for dumbed-down Britain. Of Maggie's character, she's a bit too much of a know-all. And her opposite, Bernard gets, AGAIN to be the strong, less intelligent, broody type. Best avoid to clichés - eh?
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RachaelBaldigo16 November 2020This film was very well shot, charming, and I really liked the call backs with imagery and dialogue. However, I did find the pacing a little slow and confusing. Maggie's very opinionated moments, while I didn't dislike them, didn't always seem to have much motive behind them. I like when a film doesn't reveal its idea right away, and by the end it ties up most of the strings so while I appreciate that, the way in which it was done left me still a little hazy - I personally felt it could have done with just a smidgen more detail in of motive and background story. But I could also see why they did it the way they chose. Feel like it's something that needs to be watched again and mulled over (which is not a bad thing by any means). I think the trailer set me up to believe it would be faster paced and more confusing. I'd still recommend watching, just be in the mood for it!
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malikusaid-7985327 August 2020Very Boring Film... just Waste of time while listening Einstein and Newton's Theories for 1 1/2 hrs continuously, without any reason.... with no romance in the film....
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ahmadhsun6 September 2020Presentable cast, playing boring roles, they think they are being very philosophical and what ever but they are not. who does not thin about universe but no one tries to kill themselves with boredom on this topic.
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annialekka18 March 2020This debut feature film, by director Oliver Krimpas and screenwriter Jonathan Kiefer, was most definitely an unexpected find. Unique, with excellent acting by its two characters (Maggie and Bernard) and superbly shot, it had the idiosyncrasy of requiring me to stay alert throughout it, which I found quite novel and exciting. Based on the French philosopher Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle's book, 'Conversation on the Plurality of Worlds', it makes the audience wonder how many variations of one particular scene we are playing out at any given moment in other parallel universes. Although scenes were repeated, each time, a little more was revealed, like little clues being gifted to the viewer, and it didn't feel as if we were trapped in one scene - each 'repeated conversation' was different, it piqued my interest and moved the plot (and our discovery of the characters) further, with it's witty and philosophical conversations. The film unfolded gently, layer by layer. It is a low-budget film, and yet, the quality of its cinematography was to such a high standard, that it certainly looked as if a lot more was spent on it. It left the viewer with a sense that there are endless possibilities to life. I would highly recommend it.
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diedaily775 August 2020A playful, non-pedantic love story of sorts, with interesting and amusing nods to science, philosophy and history. Like the philosopher aristocrat of times past it imagines freely and makes constant inquiries. One is even kept guessing as to its genre, as it offers delightful nods to cosmology, technology, and even SF themes such as the Fermi paradox. At the same time it stays grounded in the romance of the present and past. Ultimately it made me feel enchanted and very lucky and glad not to be a reductionist.
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patrickbrooksfilms31 July 2020This film is seems to be just about two people walking around some gardens... but it's about much more than that.
It's about time, romance, identity, and the solar system.
It's a very unique experience, beautifully shot, written and directed, with brilliant performances from the two leads who have undeniable chemistry.
Definitely worth checking out. -
A wonderfully composed film, "Around the Sun" takes us to a chateau in France where two intelligent people meet cute but also have a meeting of the minds. The gorgeous couple and their equally gorgeous surroundings are perfectly shot, and every word of dialogue sparkles with meaning. Thoroughly enjoyable and well worth your time.
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m_mathes22 April 2020With a breath of inspiration from the Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle book 'Conversations on the plurality of worlds' writer Jonathan Kiefer has created an imaginative screenplay. Director Oliver Krimpas guides actors Cara Theobold and Gethin Anthony through a magical maze of conversation. Anthony plays Bernard a film location scout and Theobold is Maggie, representative of a French chateau being considered as a possible site for filming. Throughout the tour their conversation folds unfolds and is refolded creating layers of melodic contours. the film reminds us that we don't always get it right the first time. We follow our dream. We play a role in our destiny. We hope. And somewhere out there maybe even right here the stars are aligned and we're getting it right. After all love is a place
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What an amazing movie! I saw this at the Nevada City Film Festival and was totally blown away.
It's hard to describe: a bit of 'Before Sunrise', a bit of 'Groundhog Day' and then lots of geeky science talk about the multiverse, which seems to feed into the structure of the movie. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before - an amazingly smart script, full of clever little details. But it's also a really touching love story, powered by Cara Theobold's amazing performance. It's gorgeously shot and takes place in a lovely French château.
It's also nice and short, and doesn't outstay its welcome. Gorgeous, engaging, funny, smart, genuinely witty and moving. -
nathanael-5302215 May 2020There are only so many ways to tell the story of two attractive people falling for one another. And every love story struggles with the problem of the ending -- narrative drives to end that exciting moment of will-they-won't-they liminence. This screenplay solves that problem by bending time in on itself, so that the story repeats and becomes a puzzle. It's an impossible puzzle to crack -- viewers must stew in perplexity for a while. But it's a pleasant sort of stewing, more like a hot tub than a cannibal's pot. It's wonderful to sit in the company of beautiful people turning their charm up as high as it will go for one another, delivering Kiefer's witty brainy lines, as the puzzle unfolds and -- against all odds -- resolves with a satisfying click.
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vlfiddy27 April 2020I thoroughly enjoyed this film - the acting and cinematography were beautifully put together. The performances from Cara Theobold and Gethin Anthony were clever and well crafted. I was consistently surprised by the various twists in the screen play. A clever and romantic drama.
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Around the Sun is an Intelligent, well balanced, intellectually stimulating and visual tour de force of a film. The layers and multiple perspectives that unfold create a magical poetic narrative set in a splendid French chateau and location. A treat of a film with great lead actors and intense dialogue.
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maritsanaki18 March 2020An original film that transports you to a magical place. Wonderful acting, great cinematography, clever dialogues.
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Cara Theobold dazzles in this - skillfully driving an intricate and clever film about ideas, astrophysics, and human connection. An outstanding debut from Oliver Krimpas, with a fine script from Jonathan Kiefer.
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michaeldavies-887013 May 2020It was such an original concept and yet very simple. The use of a chateau set in lovely countryside to explore a mystical and yet scientific idea was inspired; The actors managed to lead the viewer convinclngly into two different periods of history. It was clever and believable.
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claireheath30 December 2020It's a breath of fresh air to watch a movie where you don't know where it's taking you. Fantastic performances and direction, enjoy peeling away at the layers of this smart, engaging film.
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A pleasure, this film, that we have to offer to ourselves. Unlike Fontenelle who he recommends to us: "to bypass the pleasures. It's like swampy areas where we have to travel at a speed that doesn't dare to put our feet up", this movie reveals us and urges us to appreciate the pleasures of life, the pleasures that time has to offer _ as long as it holds a rotation of the sun around the earth and many more.
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Erik-Jan_Bos23 June 2020At a French chateau a young man and a young woman wander around, discussing an old book in which a man and a woman wander around at a chateau, discussing the question of the plurality of worlds. This multi-layered movie dances gently between appearance and reality in a way I have never seen before. It is about looking at the stars, about science and philosophy; however, the underlying subject is not so much how to reach to the stars, but how to understand and reach that special other one. In this cast of just two, the actors were well-chosen, and their performance is breathtaking. You will want to see this movie twice.
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amandad-724594 May 2020Around the Sun is a beautiful film set in a chateau bathed in the autumnal mists of northern France. The endless possibilities of plot - it was like this, but it could have been like that or like that - serve as a metaphor for the theory of parallel universes proposed by the 17th century polymath who once lived in the chateau. A beautifully shot and thought-provoking film that leaves one wanting to know more.
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davies_anna9 July 2020This is such a beautiful film, from its atmospheric setting to its gorgeous cinematography, to its evocative score. And using the simple approach of a two-hander, it explores - through subtle, touching and honest performances from Cara Theobold and Gethin Anthony - a cosmos's worth of ideas and human emotions that, ultimately, are about finding a connection and the power of truly being seen by another human being.
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pjbrubak6 June 2020Around the Sun is a two-character drama in the French countryside. Because of its secluded setting, it develops a kind of intimacy not seen in most contemporary movies. We simply observe two people tour a chateau and wax poetic on philosophy and love, among other things. There were moments that surprised me, but throughout I enjoyed being in that charming world.
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julielbish4 August 2020I found the film much more emotional than I expected. Cara Theobold as Maggie was luminous, sweet, flirty & fiercely intelligent. Gethin Anthony as Bernard was charming, engaging & fascinated. It was a little gem, intriguing and life-affirming. I loved it.
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titaniakrimpas27 April 2020A seamless collaboration between director, writer, actors and cinematographer this complex gem shows that small is beautiful, and there are many different possible versions of who we can be. Subtle and beautiful.