Though known for narrative features like “The Warrior” and his work on the Netflix series “Mindhunter,” as well as biographical documentaries “Senna” and “Amy,” Asif Kapadia aims to bridge the gap between these two forms with his latest project, “2073.” Featuring performances from actors Samantha Morton, Naomi Ackie, and Hector Hewer intercut with “archival footage” of our present day and interviews with real-world figures Maria Ressa, Carole Cadwalladr, Rana Ayyub, Ben Rhodes, and many others, this self-described “warning” presents our possible dystopian future, as well as the road we took to get there.
The official synopsis read, “Kapadia’s genre-bending documentary set in the future tackles the biggest challenges endangering our present. ‘2073’ is a ‘true sci-fi’ horror. A warning of the world we will get if we don’t act now. Ghost lives off-grid in a dystopian New San Francisco in the year 2073. The world is controlled by Libertarians, Dictators and Tech Bros. There is no dissent, no freedom. Everyone is monitored, people disappear and the net is closing on Ghost. Through a genre-busting mix of archive and drama Ghost witnesses the terrifying threats facing us: a Democratic recession, the rise of neo-fascism, the Climate Disaster and the intrusion of surveillance technology. This is not science fiction. This is happening now.”
In a director’s statement, Kapadia wrote, “‘2073’ is about a feeling of dread at what is happening and being normalized around the world. The film started after seeing Brexit happen through lies and corruption in the UK, I felt I had to make a film to understand why the world seemed to be moving towards lies, authoritarianism, violence. I interviewed journalists around the world, was I going crazy, or was something happening? The journalists agreed, there was a global trend, a democratic recession, technology played a huge part and this was also aiding the destruction of the planet’s ecosystem. ‘2073’ has come out of those interviews and research. My aim was to connect the dots between many complex issues and countries in a single cinematic film.”
The film is inspired by the 1962 French short, “La Jetée,” which also served as the basis for Terry Gilliam’s “12 Monkeys” starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. Watch the trailer below.
“2073” screens out of competition at the 2024 Venice Film Festival and will be distributed by Neon.
