The Loneliest Planet

Director: Julia Loktev

2011 / 113min / 35mm

A young, happily engaged couple (Gael García Bernal and Hani Furstenberg) set out on a pre-wedding backpacking trip to Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains with a local guide (Bidzina Gujabidze) in Loktev’s sophomore feature, but the scenic journey soon goes sour after a chance encounter with some villagers, in an incident that leaves the couple’s future in doubt. A finely observed minimalist character study whose exploration of wounded masculine pride anticipates, and arguably surpasses, that of Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure two years later. “Gripping and haunting.” —The New York Times

“I remember feeling like I could smell this film the first time I saw it. It’s sensual and alive, and so very tense.” —India Donaldson

Introduction by India Donaldson on Saturday, August 3rd