You Go To My Head

You Go To My Head, an indie production directed by Dimitri de Clercq, is an atmospheric and thought-provoking drama that elegantly evolves into a deep and suspenseful mystery. This 2017 offering features haunting performances by Delfine Bafort, Svetozar Cvetkovic, and Arend Pinoy, and masterfully combines elements of suspense, romance, and psychological thriller.

Set against the visually stunning and mesmerizing backdrop of the Saharan desert, the movie opens with a striking car crash that sets the scene for a story that gambles on mixed genres, psychological nuances, and tense character interactions. After the car accident leaves Kathy unconscious in the desert, a man named Jake finds her, shockingly choosing not to take her to a hospital, and instead leading her to his secluded home.

Jake, played by Svetozar Cvetkovic, is an architect living in isolation, who immerses himself in the ethereal beauty of the harsh and expansive desert. Cvetkovic brings depth and intensity to the role of Jake, creating a complex and multi-layered persona that leaves the audience questioning his motives and route of thought. He lives the simple life of a loner until he stumbles across Kathy, a beautiful accident victim, played by Delfine Bafort, in the expanse of the deserted landscape.

Bafort offers a haunting, beautiful yet equally unsettling performance of Kathy, a woman unsure about her journey and new identity given to her by her seemingly benign rescuer. The film explores the establishment of their relationship, built on their shared isolation from the world, with Jake grooming Kathy’s memory into thinking he’s her long-term lover and the life they share is hers.

Arend Pinoy plays the role of Thomas, another human presence in this setting that intensifies the narrative arc of the story. His character adds an additional layer of tension to the narrative and poses an external threat to the new, fabricated life that Jake and Kathy hold.

You Go To My Head is a highly symbolic narrative, laden with metaphors which are enhanced by the emphatic cinematography. The film is visually stunning; Stijn Grupping's camera captures the bleak beauty and the vast emptiness of the desert setting, using it to mirror the emotional status and confused mentality facing Kathy and Jake. It's an evocative illustration of character progression and the disorderly human mind.

The direction takes a subtle yet powerful approach to storytelling, skillfully dribbling hints about the characters' past lives and their psychological make-up. Dimitri de Clercq, in his narrative feature debut, presents an engaging exploration of psychological manipulation, identity loss, and it challenges the audience’s perception of love. The brilliant direction, together with the compelling performances of the lead actors, casts a spell that keeps the viewer engrossed until the very end, constantly agonizing about the moral implications of the unfolding events.

Furthermore, the use of classical music as the movie's score emphasizes the drama and mystery of the narrative. It augments the ethereal feel of the story and reflects the complicated emotions that prevail throughout the sequences. The score combines with the silence and the austere beauty of the Saharan desert to create a calming yet subtly disturbing ambiance.

The film does not seek quick thrills or conventional plot structures, but instead thrives on its slow-burning, hypnotic narrative. By crossing the streams of different genres, the film succeeds in delivering both an atmospheric thriller and a riveting character study. The audience is left to contemplate the film's exploration of memory manipulation, shared solitude, and the disturbing turn love can take in isolation.

In conclusion, You Go To My Head is a beautifully haunting exploration of love, isolation, and deception. It is a compelling watch for anyone who appreciates a slow, thought-provoking narrative with a distinct visual and emotional appeal. It's an enticing cinematic experience that won't easily escape your mind, just as the title suggests. It's a piece of art that dares to explore the darker shades of human emotion while simultaniously encapsulating the viewer in its thrilling and surreal domain.