CIFF: “Viking” - Film Review
Humans, for better or for worse, are unpredictable by nature. Try as we might to understand our actions, there’s something baked into human DNA that proves there is no hard-and-fast rule that can explain an individual’s actions. As is the case with Viking, however, science will continue to search for predictability in the unstable landscape of the human brain.
David (Steve Laplante) has been selected to participate in a secret project. It’s something so important to the future of society that he can’t tell any of his friends and family where he’s going or for how long. If he did, though, they likely wouldn’t believe him anyway. David is going to Mars…in theory. For the first time in history, humans have landed on Mars, but there are interpersonal conflicts among the team members. In the same way that scientists on Earth have recreated the rovers to solve technical issues that arise, the Viking Society has put together a body-double version of the team on Mars. Each of the civilians participating has been selected based on how closely their problem-solving skills, emotional reactions, and overall belief system mirror those of a Mars team member. David is now Josh, and he is taken to a strange, secluded facility somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the western United States. Josh, Janet (Fabiola Nyrva Aladin), Liz (Denis Houle), Gary (Hamza Haq), and Steven (Larissa Corriveau) all have different names and lives, but their mission is to coexist in this facility to help scientists predict potential issues that could arise with the Mars team.
As one can deduce, Viking doesn’t take itself entirely seriously. While it wouldn’t fit with our current definition of a comedy, Viking is funny. Inherently, there’s humor in five people working so hard at pretending to be individuals they’ve never met, and the script enjoys calling attention to the absurdity of the situation. This sense of humor is also evident in the film’s editing. David daydreams of a beautiful, glowing Mars, misty score playing in the background, when an abrupt match cut shows a dollop of ketchup slapped into a bowl of mayonnaise before the two are mixed together.
Viking is a space oddity survival flick with its feet firmly planted on earth. The production design is a gorgeous blend of retro futurism that harkens back to the era of the space race. Back when people looked up at the stars in wonderment and dreamed of humans going to space. Maybe Viking shows us that this space age will have a resurgence. Whether it be to Mars or the moon, people are looking upward once again. The costumes are equal parts pragmatic and dreamy, a perfect encapsulation of the film itself. Equal parts an absurd concept and a genuine scientific inquiry, Viking points to the duality of humanity. This is also evidenced in the composition of the shots. So neat and organized, but with highly contrasting colors that create an otherworldly feeling. For those willing to venture on this strange mission, Viking is a visual and comedic treat.
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