A tech-noir thriller about memory, obsession, and a flooded future Miami
In short: In a climate-ravaged future, a veteran uses a machine to help clients relive their pasts. When a mysterious singer vanishes, he becomes obsessed with retracing their time together. This directorial debut from Lisa Joy explores the dangerous allure of living in memories rather than facing a harsh, flooded reality.
Reminiscence, released in 2021, marks the feature directorial debut of Lisa Joy. Set in a future Miami where rising sea levels have forced the population to adapt to a nocturnal lifestyle, the story follows Nick Bannister, played by Hugh Jackman, and his partner Emily 'Watts' Sanders, portrayed by Thandiwe Newton. They operate a specialized machine that allows individuals to revisit their own memories, a technology also utilized by the state to extract information from suspects.
The narrative centers on Nick's search for a missing client named Mae, played by Rebecca Ferguson. As he repeatedly dives into his own memories of their brief relationship, the investigation uncovers a web of corruption involving a drug kingpin, a wealthy land baron, and a lethal cop. The film draws heavily on noir tropes, with critics frequently comparing its tone and structure to classics like The Maltese Falcon and modern sci-fi staples such as Inception.
Despite its ambitious premise, the film struggled significantly at the box office. With a production budget of $54 million, it grossed only $16.4 million worldwide. Its theatrical performance was particularly notable for setting a record for the lowest opening weekend for a film playing in over 3,000 theaters. Critics were divided, with many praising the film's visual world-building while finding the plot convoluted and derivative of earlier genre works.
The film's legacy is marked by its unique production history, including its inclusion on the 2013 Black List of popular unproduced screenplays. While it failed to find a broad audience in theaters, it reached over 2 million US households during its month-long simultaneous release on HBO Max. Ultimately, the story serves as a meditation on the human tendency to cling to the past, mirroring the protagonist's own tragic, self-imposed exile within his own mind.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Reminiscence (2021 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-reminiscence-2021-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
