Upstream Color

Upstream Color is a beautiful and profound film. The basis of the movie is an interconnection between two human beings through unfortunate circumstances. Much like Primer, Upstream Color is a completely baffling movie on the first watch and makes truly little sense. However, just like Primer, when getting an explanation of the plot and digesting the scenes that took place, the rather confusing plot becomes fairly straightforward. Upstream Color shows a cycle of creation by humanity that forms a conglomerate of people that must work together and bond due to the greed and vileness of other human beings.  When turning the movie off, I was left with only questions and a complete misinterpretation of the plot, but now I feel as though Upstream Color is one of the most grounded and emotional films that I’ve ever seen. Primer came from a place of intelligence and coldness whereas Upstream Color came from a place of emotion and warmth.  Shane Carruth showed through both Primer and Upstream Color that he is an amazing film director and that is both on an intellectual scale, as well as an emotional scale. Upstream Color is a movie that came into with high expectations, but left with mixed feelings. Funnily enough though, here I am now though and have had my expectations exceeded.  An article I read said that, “The story is not about vengeance, but acceptance and finding the ability to move forward.” and I believe that quote is a perfect summarization of an exceptionally beautiful film.