Film Archive

I Origins

Official Selection - Out of Competition 2014 / I Origins / USA 2014

Michael Pitt, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, and Brit Marling in a romantic, sci-fi drama from director Mike Cahill (Another Earth). An encounter with a mysterious beauty drastically changes the life of a young molecular biologist who is fascinated by the human eye. Some years later he makes an unexpected discovery that calls into question his once unshakable faith in science.

Synopsis

Mike Cahill, one of the most intriguing figures of contemporary American independent film, tells the story of young molecular biologist Ian Gray, who is wholly preoccupied with studying the evolution of the human eye. His encounter with a beautiful but mysterious young woman takes this die-hard adherent of science to hitherto unfamiliar territory. Years later, Gray and his colleague Karen make a surprising discovery which calls into question his once unshakable faith in science and his scepticism of mystic forces. However, in order to prove or disprove his new theory, he will have to travel half way around the world. Michael Pitt, Astrid Bergès–Frisbey and Brit Marling play the leads in this romantic sci-fi drama which struck a chord with critics and viewers alike at this year’s Sundance festival. Cahill handles his hazardous manoeuvres in the world of big ideas with receptive elegance and gentle lyricism, while the exhilarating visual qualities of this patently spiritual film were achieved in large part thanks to cinematographer Markus Förderer (Hell, 2011).

About the film

113 min / Color, DCP
International premiere
Director Mike Cahill / Screenplay Mike Cahill / Dir. of Photography Markus Förderer / Music Will Bates, Phil Mossman / Editor Mike Cahill / Producer Mike Cahill, Hunter Gray, Alex Orlovsky / Production Verisimilitude, WeWork Studios / Coproduction Bersin Pictures, Penny Jane Films / Cast Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, Archie Panjabi / Contact Fox Searchlight Pictures UK, CinemArt, a.s. / Distributor CinemArt, a.s.

About the director

Mike Cahill (b. 1979, New Haven, Connecticut, USA) lives in Brooklyn. He studied economics at Georgetown University (2001) and debuted in film with Another Earth, which won the Special Jury Prize and the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the Sundance festival in 2011. The latter honour is awarded to feature films which focus thematically on science or technology, or depict a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character; the prize was also awarded to Cahill at this year’s Sundance, which premiered his second film, I Origins.

Contacts

Fox Searchlight Pictures UK
Twentieth Century House, 31/32 Soho Square, W1D 3AP, London
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 207 314 7005
Fax: +44 207 753 0112

CinemArt, a.s.
Národní 60/28, 111 21, Praha 1
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 224 949 110
E-mail: [email protected]