If you cast your mind back to the dim and distant past of 2019, the very thought of living in some kind of national lockdown was the province of pure science-fiction. Fast forward a couple of years and it’s now the dull and traumatic reality which feels like it will never end. The process of adapting to a different way of life has been long and arduous, but it now feels like a new normal. Despite being conceived and filmed before most people even knew what a coronavirus is, The Pink Cloud captures this moment in time perfectly.
When Giovana (Renata de Lélis) and Yago (Eduardo Mendonça) meet at a party, there’s an instant spark. However, the next day pink deadly clouds appear in the skies over the city, killing anyone who comes into contact with the air. As the pair take refuge indoors, they find themselves thrown together for an unknown amount of time with only each other for company. They’re relationship must rapidly adjust to this new reality.
The brilliance of The Pink Cloud is just how scarily accurately its depiction of living under quarantine is. It’s almost prescient. Iuli Gerbase beautifully captures the malaise of confinement, the quest for something better and the eventual resignation. The claustrophobia and constraints of the situation are beautifully captured by Bruno Polidoro’s washed out cinematography. The Pink Cloud is a clever and thoughtful sci-fi drama with hits all too close to home.
The Pink Cloud screens at Sundance Film Festival.
