By: debbie lynn elias
My #1 Must See Festival Film at Los Angeles Film Festival 2013 and hot contender in the Narrative Competition making its world premiere at LAFF is GOODBYE WORLD. A timely apocalyptic drama that’s intelligent and thought provoking, GOODBYE WORLD bodes a cast led by Adrian Grenier and Kerry Bishe, with Gaby Hoffmann, Mark Webber, Ben Mckenzie, Kid Cudi, Julie Dretzin and Caroline Dhavernas. Directed by Denis Henry Hennelly and co-written by Hennelly and Sarah Adina Smith, GOODBYE WORLD speaks to the issue of what happens when the world turns on itself and we turn on each other.
James and Lily and their daughter Hannah live a secluded life in Northern California. Having walked away from a successful Silicon Valley company he shared with his brother Nick, James long ago realized the delicate nature of society. Electing to have more control over his life and that of his wife and daughter in terms of sustainability and survivability, James has been cultivating his land with goats, chickens, growing his own food, etc. No cell service, no tv. They are virtually self-sustaining. But when a global cyber attack triggered with the text “Goodbye World” cripples the world, his old friends from Stanford, all now activists and achievers, head for the hills and James’ reclusive world.
As old friends who have gone their separate ways and who are now thrown together trapped in an emergency situation, truths, anger, fears, jealousy and passions ignite as the pieces of the global puzzle come together and life as everyone knows it falls apart at the seams calling into question the morals of our time, social responsibility, and the “haves” and “have nots.”
As James, Grenier knocks it out of the park, along with Gaby Hoffmann who, as Laura, a political insider with her pulse on heartbeat of Washington has insight into what’s happening beyond James’ cloistered world (which thematically develops as a microcosm paralleling the much larger structure of the nation as a whole). These two steer the story, imparting information necessary to the narrative while the rest of the cast fuels ideologic action, and none moreso than Mark Webber as die hard activist Benji.
GOODBYE WORLD speaks not only to the questions of personal responsibility for one’s self and others, but also the big question of solving – or preventing – a complete societal collapse and breakdown complete with well known theories interplaying one with the other ; “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”, “trickle down effect” and “everything and everyone is connected.”
Jeff Bollman’s bright, polished, clean yet textured cinematography serves as a beautiful mask of the underlying drama of the story. A strong visual contrast to the thematic elements at hand, Bollman’s visuals are celebratory of the natural beauty of this world, capturing vibrant greens, sunny yellows, warm inviting golden hued interiors. Production design by Katie Byron and Rachael Ferrara is stellar.
Touching on global communications, geopolitical and economic structures and innate human fear, and beyond relevant to each of us in today’s world, don’t say goodbye to Los Angeles Film Festival until you’ve seen GOODBYE WORLD.
Directed by Denis Henry Hennelly.
Co-written by Hennelly and Sarah Adina Smith
Cast: Adrian Grenier, Kerry Bishe, with Gaby Hoffmann, Mark Webber, Ben Mckenzie, Kid Cudi, Julie Dretzin, Caroline Dhavernas
