Fly in Fly Out

Fly In Fly Out (Cadavre Exquis) is a stirring and captivating feature film that grapples with universal themes of loneliness, connection, and the labyrinth of human emotions. Directed by Patricia Chica and starring Simon Pelletier-Gilbert, Viola von Scarpatetti, the film offers a unique blend of drama, romance, and thrilling suspense that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The movie primarily unfolds inside an impressive and visually arresting airplane. It's no ordinary plane but rather a seemingly infinite universe of emotions, dreams, and time loops. The plane's ethereal and mysterious quarters host a variety of complex characters, shaped by potent performances from the cast, especially Simon Pelletier-Gilbert and Viola von Scarpatetti.

Simon Pelletier-Gilbert gives a captivating performance as Daniel, a long-time employee of an airline company. He works in the Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) method, a labor system often used in mining companies where employees spend significant amounts of time away from home. In Daniel's case, this isolation translates to the time he spends flying, disconnected from the world and surrounded by transient strangers. His character is defined by a struggle to break free from his increasingly mundane and monotonous life.

On the other side, Viola von Scarpatetti breathes life into her character, Nina, a successful businesswoman with her own share of paralyzing loneliness and longing. She's often aloft for business, escaping from an uninspiring world towards a destination that's not much different from her point of departure. Every flight for her becomes a metaphor of her life's journey – fraught with detachment and disconnection, much like Daniel.

Their contrasting yet paralleled lives come together under the magnifying glass of the airplane, where they meet and interact in the restricted yet seemingly infinite world of the airplane. Without exploring into much detail to avoid giving away the storyline, it suffices to say that the film relies heavily on their shared experiences and emotional journeys, carving suspense twists and heart-wrenching moments.

The title, 'Cadavre Exquis,' rings true to its English translation, 'Exquisite Corpse,' a term derived from a game invented by Surrealists in which a collection of images or words is assembled collectively. It can be interpreted as an analogy for the movie's plot, where different characters' lives are woven together to form a collective narrative. Each passenger, each flight attendant, every crew member plays a part in this narrative, contributing to the mesmerizing mosaic the film gradually creates.

Director Patricia Chica's skillful storytelling is apparent in her ability to weave a series of seemingly unconnected threads of emotions, anxieties, and moments into one cohesive and emotionally charged narrative. The film aesthetics' – the cinematography, the production design, the sound design - is handled with extraordinary delicacy, echoing the surrealist tones and offering an atmospheric landscape that harmonizes with the storyline.

The uniqueness of 'Fly In Fly Out (Cadavre Exquis)' lies in its intent and execution, conveying powerful psychological and emotional narratives within the confined space of an airplane, a place where connections are often fleeting, and human interactions hold a transient nature. The film makes you question the concept of home, loneliness, and relationships as it brings forth the reality of many contemporary lives – trapped in the cycle of constant movement, trying to find an escape from their own realities.

Ultimately, the movie instills a sense of lingering contemplation about the modern world, the notion of loneliness in the crowd, and the urge to connect in a fast-paced, constantly moving setting. 'Fly In Fly Out (Cadavre Exquis)' serves as a lens where viewers can take a moment to look into their own journey while observing others', resulting in a deeply introspective and evocatively human cinematic experience.