Watch Backlight

Backlight is a 2010 independent thriller-drama movie starring Joaquim de Almeida, Michelle Mania, and Skyler Day. The story revolves around a young woman named Dawn, who embarks on a journey to Greece to find her father, who has disappeared. The movie is intense and carries a mysterious and emotionally charged tone throughout, propelled by its captivating cinematography.

The story begins with Dawn, a twenty-something hustler from Los Angeles. She receives a call informing her that her father, whom she hasn't seen in over ten years, has gone missing following a business trip to Greece. Fearing the worst, Dawn immediately sets off to Athens with the hope of finding him.

Upon arriving in the old city, Dawn meets her father's former research partner, a man named Angelo, who informs her that her father had been conducting research on light and the human brain. He also mentions that the Greek government had become interested in the project and had taken over funding, but their goals were unclear.

As Dawn begins her search for her father, she finds herself being followed by a mysterious man who introduces himself as a detective. She soon realizes that her trip to Greece is much more dangerous than she had initially thought. In each step of her search, Dawn finds herself confronted with unexpected revelations and disturbing incidences that only fuel her determination to uncover the truth.

Along the way, Dawn meets a friendly photographer named Stavros, who offers to help her. Through his help, she slowly starts to connect the dots in her father's research, which suggest the existence of an invisible electromagnetic field that can affect human behavior.

The movie is also infused with scenes from Dawn's childhood, which provide valuable insights into the strained relationship between her and her father, and the source of her pain.

As Dawn heads closer to the truth, she becomes aware of the various parties who might be behind her father's disappearance, and her own life comes under increasing threat. She realizes that she must outwit the people who are determined to stop her and discover the true intentions behind her father's research.

In summary, Backlight is an engaging film that blends science, mystery and thriller, and emotional drama seamlessly. The story is well-crafted and well-executed, with strong performances from the cast. The stunning Greek landscapes provide a captivating backdrop to the drama. The preoccupation with light and darkness is well utilized throughout the film and is incorporated into the motif of the story effectively. As she gets closer to the truth, Dawn is forced to confront painful memories from her past, culminating in an emotionally satisfying and cathartic conclusion.

Backlight is a 2010 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.