Upstream Color (2013)

A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the life cycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.

Director:

Shane Carruth

Writer:

Shane Carruth

Stars:

Amy Seimetz, Frank Mosley, Shane Carruth

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amy Seimetz	...	Kris
Shane Carruth	...	Jeff
Andrew Sensenig	...	The Sampler
Thiago Martins	...	Thief
Kathy Carruth	...	Orchid Mother
Meredith Burke	...	Orchid Daughter
Andreon Watson	...	Peter
Ashton Miramontes	...	Lucas
Myles McGee	...	Monty
Frank Mosley	...	Husband
Carolyn King	...	Wife
Kerry McCormick	...	OB / GYN
Marco Antonio Rodriguez	...	MRI Tech
Brina Palencia	...	Woman in Club
Lynn Blackburn	...	HR Manager

Storyline

A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the life cycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.

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Plot Keywords:

Actor Director Writer | Two Word Title

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2013 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

erbp

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Thief: I have to apologize. I was born with a disfigurement where my head is made of the same material as the sun.

User Reviews

Amazingly pretentious yet empty at the same time

We just saw this film thanks to the Cinema Club in San Jose, where you never know what you're going to see until the film starts. We heard it was the most anticipated films of Sundance 2013. Perhaps by masochists.

Here's a list of unconnected thematic elements in the film: psychoactive caterpillars, urban crime and terrorism, Thoreau, swimming, civil disobedience, blue orchids, pigs, pig farming, musique concrète, and "Walden." How these things relate is a secret still locked up inside of writer/filmmaker/director/lead-actor Shane Carruth's mind.

Of particular note was the hour and a half of endlessly repeating, tension-inducing music that never resolved. Perhaps that's the filmmaker's metaphor for life itself. Don't look for this movie's soundtrack to appear on CD although you can get it on iTunes or (amazingly) vinyl LP.

Carruth will be handling film distribution too (probably a wise move) but I think it's highly unlikely that you'll be reading about this film in the box office news. Several people in our audience walked out after only half an hour. We stayed until the bitter end, fervently hoping for some sort of organization or a glimpse of the filmmaker's thinking to put things into some sort of place. Alas, no. This movie stayed true to its art-film leanings to the last frame. (Reading other reviews like the one in the New York Times, that's Carruth's intent so you are now doubly warned.)

We had the opportunity to participate in the Q&A after the film but passed it up. Why add insult to injury? If a movie needs to be explained to be appreciated, in my opinion, then it fails to be an entertainment. If you have to have an IQ of 150 or be a Sundance-class film buff to "get" this film, perhaps the price of admission is too high.