Electricity

Electricity, a 2014 British film directed by Bryn Higgins and starring Agyness Deyn, Christian Cooke, and Paul Anderson, is an unconventional but hauntingly beautiful foray into the world of epileptic hallucinations and the constant struggles of a choppy reality. This film, adapted from the novel by Ray Robinson, manages to fuse the harsh realism of living with epilepsy into a journey of self-discovery and familial connection.

The narrative focuses on the lead character, Lily O’Connor, played disarmingly by Agyness Deyn. In the dreary seaside town of North East England, Lily’s life is overshadowed by the everyday horrors of negotiating her world alongside severe epilepsy. Her debilitating seizures not only blur the specifics of her world but trigger surreal hallucinations, which are visually rendered through dazzling and disconcerting scenes of cinematic brilliance.

With the death of her estranged mother, an old wound is reopened, and she decides to seek out her long-lost brother. Obsessed with locating him but hindered by her alarming seizures, she embarks on an intense journey. It is not a journey solely to find her brother; it is also a journey towards finding herself along the pathways to the past haunted by abandonment and trauma.

Deyn’s portrayal of Lily is stark and raw in its authenticity. She portrays epilepsy not just as a condition but as an inescapable, life-altering force that shapes and disrupts her existence. Deyn’s luminous performance successfully portrays the daily battles and ruthless determination stemmed in her struggle, beautifully illustrating her character’s feisty, headstrong nature. Worth noting is the brilliance of her ability to draw empathy and emotion from the viewers in moments of utter despair and vulnerability.

Following her quest, the film introduces her to a host of characters, including Mikey O’Connor (Christian Cooke), and unconfessed love interest, Mel (Paul Anderson). These relationships only emphasize the loneliness and isolation, which Lily mostly brushes aside with her brave face and sharp tongue, but fails to hide entirely from herself. The dynamic relationships, coupled with the desolate beauty of the seaside town and the neon vibrancy of London, provide a captivating backdrop to her unwavering quest.

Directed brilliantly by Bryn Higgins (Unconditional), the film shines in its bold and unflinching depiction of epilepsy. It doesn’t simply skim the surface of the condition. Instead, the narrative dives deep within, challenging the audience to view the world from Lily’s perspective. Electricity doesn't shy away from the gritty reality of seizures, with scenes often leaving a strong impact on viewers as they share in the rawness of Lily's experiences.

Higgins capitalizes on cinematic techniques that inflate the perspective of the debilitating disorder, with surreal visuals that simulate the disorienting, electrifying experience of a seizure. These scenes are surreal, disorientating, and at times terrifying, emulating the experience of a sensory overload and reinforcing the impact of Lily's condition on her life.

The script, penned by Joe Fisher, is edgy, raw, and hits hard with its emotional punches. It is steeped in the grueling effects of epilepsy, a frank portrait of a disease so crippling yet so misunderstood. The manipulation of dialogue in the film teeters between the grit of reality and the haze of dreamlike sequences, transferring on-screen the chaos that exists within Lily's mind.

Electricity is powerful and profound, blending the fragility of existence and primal instinct for survival into one journey – a journey that faces the past, acknowledges the present, and unknowingly prepares to embrace the future. The movie explores themes of family, alienation, and the search for identity, all entangled in the relentless struggle against a life dominated by epileptic seizures. It not only provides a voice for those suffering from epilepsy but illuminates their often misunderstood experiences and unwavering resilience. It's a potently emotional experience, with Deyn delivering a standout performance in her leading role.

Thereby, Electricity is a visually stunning and emotionally enlightening film that symbolizes not only the struggle of epilepsy but also the human spirit's indomitable nature. It's a rare blend of social drama and psychological thriller, grounded in human complexity and the power of survival. It leads the viewer into a world filled with fierce battles and bizarre hallucinations, illuminating the dark corners of a life shadowed by epilepsy.