Indivisible (2016)

Edoardo De Angelis, Italy

I'm a huge fan of movies that explore universal themes through a high-concept idea, and while that usually equates to the realm of science fiction, there are certainly exceptions to that rule. Case in point, a little movie called Indivisible. I saw this film at TIFF last year, and it's something I really wish would've gotten a wider distribution outside of its home country. You know when a film is small but design, but just feels so big? Maybe too broad of a statement to make much sense, but this just isn't a grand film on paper, yet there's a sense of ambition and gravity pulsating through it from beginning to end. By following a set of conjoined twins who are thrown into the entertainment industry, not fully by choice, Edoardo De Angelis explores the duality of having the freedom to choose and the perils that come with that freedom. All this wrapped in a non-conventional coming of age tale that's oddly relatable, despite the extreme directions that the screenplay follows. Looking at the performances in this film, it's hard to believe that Angela and Marianna Fontana (sisters in real life) are first time actors given how complex their roles are. There's a lot going on in this film, but their characters dominate most of the screen time and anchor the entire story right from the very first frame. As of right now, there's nothing brewing on their IMDB pages, but I'm sure that will change in the near future should they choose to continue a career in acting. They are simply fantastic here. And back to my point about movies with high-concept ideas. Movies like this often hook you in with the novelty of its idea, but the end result often fizzles in the midst of carrying a bit too much on its shoulders. Indivisible never falters in this way, and stays on focus right until the very end. Based on the concept alone, I had high expectations walking into this screening, which can often be a setup for disappointment. Luckily for me, and anyone who's gotten to watch this at some point, Indivisible did not disappoint at all.