The Far Side of the Moon

Robert Lepage has outdone himself here. Not only did he write and direct this film, but he took the two starring roles. Rumour has it, he will be expanding his participation in his next film, to the point where no one else will be seen on camera except him. He’ll operate the camera via a remote control in his pocket, and build all the sets himself from bits and pieces of his house. I’m making that up.

I knew nothing about this film coming in. I knew it was Lepage, and I knew it was adapted from a stage play (which played briefly in Vancouver, and I missed it). Turns out it’s a story about two brothers (both played by Lepage) who have recently lost their mother. It handily contrasts the differences between the brothers and how they react to the news, and how they deal with the aftermath.

The far side of the moon, the side we never see on Earth, is covered in craters. There’s very little gravity up there, so even though it’s scarred, you can be free, unencumbered by baggage.

The film features the typical Lepage visual lushness. Scenes that seamlessly blend into each other, surprising and humorous visual puns, and glimpses of a magical parallel universe, existing somewhere between the director’s ears. This is a universe where gravity gets turned on and off at will, and Godzilla-sized people can climb around neighbourhoods and look in windows. It’s a beautiful film.