Styx

Styx is a 2018 drama film directed by Wolfgang Fischer starring Susanne Wolff, Gedion Oduor Wekesa, and Kelvin Mutuku Ndinda. The movie tells the story of Rike, a successful German emergency doctor eager to embark on a solo sailing trip from Gibraltar to Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. The film begins with Rike (Susanne Wolff) at work in Germany, where she faces a difficult day treating a dying woman who wants to die in her own bed. After her shift ends, she boards her sailboat and sets out on her journey. The opening scenes are serene as the film takes the time to establish the character and the boat's surroundings. However, soon, Rike receives a distress call from another boat carrying desperate refugees, requesting immediate assistance. Rike's character is quickly tested as she approaches the stranded refugees, including a mother and her baby son, aboard a rundown fishing vessel. She is eager to help, but is told over the radio that she cannot approach the boat until a rescue ship can arrive. Rike is left with no choice but to wait. It is in this scene that the film's title, Styx, comes into play; the Styx river of mythology represents the divide between the living and the dead or the world of the living and the underworld. The river Styx is the border that separates the world of the living and the world of the dead, and this similarity acts as poignant symbolism throughout the movie. The film is raw, honest storytelling as Rike's character experiences a range of emotions while waiting for rescue while watching the refugees suffer. She feels guilty and powerless as she sees the refugees struggling for survival. It forces her to confront her privilege and the inequalities in the world, as she is forced to consider the lives of those unlike herself. The style of the movie is minimalist with no musical score, the silence and the sound design adding to the sense of severity and suspense. One of the great strengths of this movie is the incredible performance by Susanne Wolff as Rike. She is alone for most of the film, yet manages to convey an array of emotions through her facial expressions and the nuances of her acting. The audience can feel her frustration, guilt, helplessness, compassion, and despair as she tries to figure out what to do. The supporting cast of refugees delivers sterling performances as well, especially Gedion Oduor Wekesa as the father of the baby and Kelvin Mutuku Ndinda as the captain of the trawler. Together they create a powerful, emotional experience that does not feel manipulative or contrived. What is most striking about Styx is its ability not to point fingers or preach a message, instead painting a delicate picture of the reality of illegal immigration in the current socio-political climate. There is no morality tale, just a story that reflects it back to the viewer, forcing them to look at the world through Rike's eyes. It is a unique perspective that humanizes the issue at hand while showcasing the strength of the human spirit. In conclusion, Styx is a humanistic film that highlights the disparity between those with privilege and those without. The movie does not provide any solutions but raises more questions about the world's inequality in the background of the refugee crisis. The film's slow pace and minimalist approach help viewers to experience Rike's sense of powerlessness and despair. It is a somber movie that leaves the viewer pondering long after the credits have rolled. The movie delivers a powerful message without blatantly making a stance on any particular matter. It is a beautiful metaphor for the state of the world where we often ignore or pass them by the Styx River. Styx deserves tremendous credit, and its critical reception reflects its ability to elicit an emotional response without succumbing to the requirements of a traditional movie.

Styx is a Drama, Suspense movie released in 2019. It has a runtime of 95 min.. Critics and viewers have rated it moderate reviews, with an IMDb score of 6.6. It also holds a MetaScore of 78.

Where can I stream Styx movie online? Styx is available to watch and stream, buy on demand, download at Amazon Prime, Plex, Tubi TV, Kanopy, Apple TV, Amazon, Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Styx for a limited time or purchase the movie for downloading.