Occasionally an independent film comes along that really accomplishes its mission, for me Time Sweep is one of those. This drama/thriller with a modest budget focuses on all the right things, great acting, superb directing, lovely cinematography, and believable characters in a tight script.
The essential ingredient of this concept to make it work at all had to be the chemistry between the two main protagonists, and for once it is there. The obsessive and adoring Luis, coupled with the beautiful and passionate Julia was made completely believable from the start. Nothing is wasted in this production and every character is memorable, perhaps the mother seemed a little young for the part, but she certainly carried her role well to make it convincing, and had the daughter's good looks to hold it true.
Unpredictable and fascinating, the film just takes you along its continually unfolding puzzle into unknown territory. The setting in Argentina was atmospheric too, being hot and slightly febrile, and with its mixture of cultures and traditions, yet still low-key. The few effects used are there for a good reason and add rather than distract from the situations, as does the great, sparse score that accompanies the film.
So often movies with other-worldly concepts at the heart of them fail to stay solid throughout and so lose their way, not with Time Sweep, it has clearly been very well thought out from beginning to end and stays true to itself, leaving the viewer still thinking as the end titles roll, but not bewildered and incomplete in the things that it doesn't directly answer.
Bravo ! brilliant work all round.
