Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unpleasant, unsettling French sci-fi art film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Evolution
What's the Story?
In EVOLUTION, a young boy named Nicolas (Max Brebant) who's living in some kind of dystopian future (or an alternate reality, or another planet) finds the body of a dead boy floating in the water. His mother (Julie-Marie Parmentier) checks it out and announces that there is no dead boy. But she's lying, and it's revealed that the women who run this world are secretly using the boys in unusual medical procedures: It seems that they're actually causing new children to grow within the boys' bodies. But a nurse (Roxane Duran), moved by Nicolas' drawings, makes a decision to change his fate.
Is It Any Good?
This strange, austere sci-fi art film may engage viewers looking for something different, but for most, it will be a queasy, unsettling experience, requiring much patience for little reward. Director/co-writer Lucile Hadzihalilovic seems to want to say something about reproductive rights, but her tone is heavy and oppressive, as if she doesn't trust the audience to come to the correct conclusion. The movie spends many long, quiet moments either pondering or stretching out the thin story.
From its sci-fi scenario, the movie elicits basic questions, including: Where do the women come from if only boys are around? And just how does this awful society work on a day-to-day basis? As mysterious and beautifully filmed as it is, Evolution nonetheless seems more intent on message-making than on storytelling. It may well leave you cold.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Evolution's violence and horror imagery. What effect did it have on you, and how did it go about achieving that effect?
What does the movie seem to be saying about reproduction and male/female roles? Does a movie need to have a clear message to be effective?
Why do you think the nurse rescues Nicolas and sets him free? What's different about him? What connection do they have?
How does Evolution compare to other brainy sci-fi movies you've seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 23, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : March 21, 2017
- Cast : Max Brebant , Roxane Duran , Julie-Marie Parmentier
- Director : Lucile Hadzihalilovic
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : IFC
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 81 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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