Perfect Sense

Perfect Sense, released in 2011, is an intriguing blend of romance, drama, and science fiction that addresses poignant human experiences through a unique narrative lens. The film stars renowned actors Ewan McGregor and Eva Green, supported by Lauren Tempany, in a mesmerizing exploration of love and sensory experience in a world experiencing an extraordinary crisis. Directed by David Mackenzie, this emotionally charged film takes the audience on a surreal journey filled with love, sorrow, hope, and acceptance.

At the heart of the film, Eva Green plays Susan, a stoic and committed epidemiologist always engrossed with her work, navigating complexities of disease spread. She comes with her emotional baggage that makes her often reluctant to explore relationships. While Green delivers an exceptional performance as Susan, Ewan McGregor as Michael, a charming and charismatic chef, brings the perfect counterbalance to the table. Micheal's affable and carefree personality serves as a contrast to Susan's driven and closed-off character. It's their personal stories and complexities that foster their budding romance, conveying an emotional depth that grows alongside the unfolding of the film's primary plotline.

Setting the backdrop is Glasgow, Scotland, in a world mysteriously afflicted by an alarming epidemic -- not your usual disease outbreak, but a peculiar one that affects the senses, beginning with the loss of smell. This inexplicable sensory loss pandemic shows no signs of slowing down and sparks a worldwide panic, leading to societal breakdown and causing ripple effects across communities. The intermingling of this disquieting crisis with the central love story forms the core of Perfect Sense, tying together personal and global narratives in a provocative, evocative weave.

As Michael and Susan find themselves drawn to each other, their slowly blooming romance provides a welcome counterpoint to the escalating crisis. They form a connection in a world that's gradually losing its capacity to experience, thus projecting a palpable urgency to their relationship. Their love story is characterized by a sense of shared vulnerability, resilience, and visceral instinct to adapt and survive – a testament to the indomitable spirit of humankind.

The director, David Mackenzie, has presented a unique juxtaposition of the mundane and the extraordinary. On one hand, there's the everyday routine of life and love, and on the other, there's an unprecedented global disaster. The narrative seamlessly shifts between these contrasting worlds -- the surreal and ordinary, love, and despair, experiencing and un-experiencing, thus crafting a narrative environment where the characters' trials truly hit home.

The script by Kim Fupz Aakeson treats this bizarre epidemic not just as a scientific phenomenon but a metaphorical exploration of the human condition. It contemplates deeply about human experiences, about love and loss, hope and despair, and the transient nature of life. The characters continue to live, laugh, love, and lose, despite the world around them in turmoil, a poignant reflection of the indomitable human spirit.

The film’s cinematography underscores the central themes, conjuring a stunning and often ominous landscape that mirrors the fear and uncertainty plaguing the world. Every frame visually communicates the growing chaos while also highlighting the small but significant moments of joy, intimacy, and connection shared by the film's protagonists.

At its core, Perfect Sense is a unique experiment in storytelling, a tale of love and survival under the most unusual of circumstances. It is a poignant meditation on the nature of experience and the human capacity to adapt and find joy even in times of despair. With absolutely splendid performances from Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, and Lauren Tempany, coupled with Mackenzie's deft direction, the film becomes a thought-provoking journey into the fragility and resilience of humanity, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate real, unfettered storytelling.