Leaving Circadia

Leaving Circadia is an indie dramedy from director Evan Matthew Weinstein. Released in 2014, this film showcases an ensemble performance from a cast that features Michael Cerveris, Winter Williams, and Christian Coulson. The movie offers a sharp, insightful look into the lives, loves, and existential crises of Brooklyn bohemians, saluting the spirit of John Hughes and J.D. Salinger even while carving its own unique mark on the genre.

The protagonists of Leaving Circadia are Tom and his group of friends who are struggling artists living in Brooklyn. Tom, played by Christian Coulson (famous for his role as Tom Riddle in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"), shines in his role as a man stuck in his own webcam world where he’s working as a cyber-messiah for a post-apocalyptic future cult. He’s also a frustrated novelist who’s yet to pen down his dreams into words for the world to see.

The other remarkable notable character is Stanley Walters, played by Tony winner Michael Cerveris. He is a brilliant mathematician but has discovered he is suffering from a severe illness, resigning himself to a reclusive lifestyle in his Brooklyn brownstone. This plotline provides one of the more compelling undercurrents in the film and begs the question of how the other characters would react to this revelation.

From Winter Ave Zoli who plays a Czech immigrant, putting in a very strong performance as Tom’s ex-girlfriend, to Evan Mathew Weinstein who plays Tom's best friend and fellow struggling artist, to Larisa Polonsky, whose character Anya serves as a love interest to Tom and a kindred spirit, everyone does justice to their roles, creating a multi-layered and believable on-screen community.

The characters are sketched beautifully with all their virtues, vices, wins, losses, smiles, and tears. Through each individual's narrative, Leaving Circadia navigates the winding road of late twenty-something life, showcasing their aspirations, insecurities, and the fear of diminishing youth.

The story tells of the reluctance of these characters to grow up and face the responsibilities that come with adulthood, their struggle to achieve their dreams in the face of reality, and their navigation through the complexities of their interpersonal relationships. As such, the apartment complex known as Circadia becomes a character itself, representing the simple lives they cling on to and the difficult decision of leaving it behind to confront reality.

On the surface, Leaving Circadia appears to be a standard narrative about a group of mature characters resisting adult responsibilities, but underneath, the film seeks to explore the bittersweet transition from arrested development to maturity, which often involves leaving a few dreams behind.

An impressive feature of the film is its soundtrack, which complements the themes and tones of the story perfectly. The movie is as much a salute to the heyday of indie rock as it is to the litany of failed and struggling artists who populate its narrative.

However, what really sets Leaving Circadia apart is its writing. The dialogues – witty, candid, and attuned to the character's emotions – are a standout feature of the film. It also successfully encapsulates the nuances of humanity and how they carve their perceptions due to their circumstances.

The direction and cinematography beautifully portray the colorful whirl of emotions, contradictions, struggles, and dreams within the confines of their brownstone, giving us stunning visuals while succeeding in creating a quirky and immersive atmosphere.

Leaving Circadia is a very layered and nuanced film that will talk to you differently, depending upon how you see it. It is a movie that does not shy away from depicting the trials, anxieties, and existential dilemmas experienced by its distinct and multifaceted characters. This film is a celebration of life in all its messy glory and a testament to the capacity of the human spirit to dream despite the weight of reality. It's an introspective journey into adulthood and a portrayal of the artistic spirit's ever-persistent dreams.