Evolution (2015) - full transcript
Nicolas is a boy living on a remote island set in the future, or another planet - or is it a dream? His village consists of white-painted houses located above the sea with a volcanic rock and black sand coastline, populated by young women and boys all of a similar age to Nicolas. Whilst swimming, Nicolas makes a discovery in the ocean, which is shrugged off by his mother, who, like all the women in the town has tied-back hair, is pale and wears a simple thin beige dress. Nicolas is curious, thinks that he is being lied to and starts to explore his environment, witnessing some unsettling scenes. He then finds himself taken to a hospital-like building where he, along with the others, undergoes a series of medical procedures by the women, dressed as nurses. He is befriended by one nurse, who becomes instrumental in the film's denouement. The film is not easy to categorise; it is not only enigmatic but beautifully filmed with deeply poetic imagery. It reflects the fear of the unknown, experienced by a boy on the cusp of adolescence.
Nicolas!
- There's a dead boy!
- Did you go out?
He's underwater.
Have you been swimming?
His eyes are horrible!
The sea makes you think
all kinds of things.
Don't do it again,
you could have drowned.
There was a star on his belly.
A starfish?
Yes, a red one, this big.
Nicolas!
We're going to bury it.
Coming?
I saw a dead body.
It's in the water.
Where in the water?
In the sea.
Liar!
He's scared!
We'll bury it here.
Time for your medicine.
One,
two,
three,
four.
Why am I sick?
Because at your age
your body is changing
and weakening.
Like lizards?
In a way.
Like lizards or crabs.
When they molt, they're very fragile.
And starfish?
They only change once, at birth.
And afterwards?
Afterwards...
A new cycle begins.
A new life.
Drink up.
You frightened me before.
Where did you go swimming?
There never was any drowned boy.
Nicolas!
You're a good boy.
Nicolas!
See its mouth? It's scary.
You're scared of this?
Coward!
Frank!
Stop that!
Coward!
You'll stay here overnight.
It won't be long.
What will you do to me?
An injection.
It's nothing for a big boy like you.
Your mother tells me you draw a lot.
Yes.
What do you draw?
Animals.
Starfish.
Am I going to die?
Hang your clothes there.
You can't shower dressed.
I can do it myself.
66.
It'll be more fun together.
Come on!
What's that?
I'd love to see your drawings.
I can keep a secret.
Thank you.
It's beautiful.
I'll count 10 and it'll be over.
One,
two,
Three,
four,
five,
six,
seven,
eight,
nine,
Ten.
Look, what they did to me.
They did it to us all.
Are we all sick?
Where are you going?
Don't you want to come home?
Victor!
Victor!
Victor!
Are you coming?
- Where?
- They're lying to us.
Let's see what they do at night.
Are you coming?
We're going to get lost.
No, we're not.
Come on!
How long do we have to stay here?
They're lying.
We won't get better.
Where's Victor?
Look what I have for you.
What's that?
A Ferris wheel.
And what does this wheel do?
You get on it
and it spins around.
Children!
I have good news.
Your friend Victor has been cured.
He sent you this.
More!
What are you doing?
Do you want them to force-feed you?
Give me that!
Give me that!
Get back into bed!
Obey me!
Obey your mother!
You're not my mother!
Nicolas...
Nicolas!
They took them all.
You know,
my mother's not my mother either.
Here.
Shall we draw?
You don't draw?
Show me.
Draw something.
Shall I tell you a secret?
Yes.
Can you feel it?
Yes.
Here he is!
Stella!
Come back!
Stella!