Watch Possible Worlds

Possible Worlds, released in 2000, is a mind-bending drama directed by Robert Lepage. It stars Tilda Swinton, Tom McCamus and Sean McCann in leading roles. The movie explores the concept of alternate realities and how every decision that we make can lead to different outcomes in different realities. At the heart of the story are George Barber (Tom McCamus) and Joyce (Tilda Swinton), a couple who meet in one reality but end up in different ones. George is a cognitive scientist who is working on a project that involves modifying the human brain to eliminate the fear of death. He meets Joyce at a party, and the two start dating. But when George is killed in a freak accident, Joyce finds herself in a different reality where George is still alive.

In this new reality, George is a criminal who is involved in a heist that goes wrong. He and his partner, Charley (Sean McCann), end up killing a witness and are on the run from the law. But as Joyce discovers more about George's life in this reality, she begins to wonder if there isn't something more going on beneath the surface.

As the film unfolds, we see George and Joyce navigate different realities, each time making different choices that lead to different outcomes. In one reality, Joyce is a successful artist, while in another, she is a struggling waitress. In another, George is a successful artist himself, while in yet another, he is a struggling writer.

What's interesting about Possible Worlds is that it doesn't follow a linear narrative. Instead, the film jumps back and forth between different realities, forcing the viewer to pay close attention to the details in order to piece together the larger story. The film's non-linear structure, combined with its dreamlike imagery, gives it a surreal quality that is both fascinating and disorienting.

Throughout the movie, Lepage plays with the idea of perception and how it shapes our understanding of reality. In one scene, for example, George and Joyce are sitting in a cafe having a conversation. As the camera circles around them, we see that the cafe is actually a set, and that the people in the background are just extras standing around waiting for their cues. It's a clever way of highlighting the fact that what we perceive to be reality is often just a construct.

The performances in Possible Worlds are top-notch, particularly Tilda Swinton's. She brings a quiet intensity to her role as Joyce, conveying a sense of melancholy and yearning that is palpable throughout the film. Tom McCamus is equally impressive as George, playing him as a tortured soul searching for something he can't quite grasp.

The film's visuals are also worth noting. Lepage, who is primarily known as a theater director, brings a theatrical sensibility to his direction. The different realities that George and Joyce inhabit are distinguished by subtle changes in lighting and color, giving each one a distinct look and feel.

As the movie reaches its conclusion, it becomes clear that there is a larger theme at work. Without giving too much away, the film ultimately asks us to contemplate the nature of existence itself. Are we just a collection of atoms floating through space and time, or is there something more to us than that? It's a question that has fascinated philosophers and scientists for centuries, and Possible Worlds does a great job of exploring it in a unique and thought-provoking way.

Overall, Possible Worlds is a beautifully crafted film that rewards close attention and repeat viewings. Its non-linear structure and dreamlike imagery make it a challenging watch, but one that is ultimately deeply rewarding for those willing to engage with it. Highly recommended.