By Remy Bailard
Arts Editor
“Life in a Year” builds a connection with watchers and brings out an emotional response to a beautiful storyline.
The film brings viewers through an insightful journey of romance, drama, and tragedy. The characterization and extreme events drive the film to have a lasting effect on the audience.
Released to Amazon Prime Video on Dec. 10, “Life in a Year” is directed by Mitja Okorn. The film stars Jaden Smith as Daryn and Cara Delevingne as Isabelle.
The movie follows Daryn, a boy with a set plan in place for his future, meeting Isabelle, a rambunctious teenager who lives on the wild side free of anyone else’s opinions. Isabelle opens Daryn’s eyes to bring out his individuality instead of living in the constant fear of pleasing his father. After Daryn finds out that Isabelle is dying of cancer, he plans a lifetime’s worth of milestones to live out in only a year.
The character of Isabelle is well-composed and is extremely complex, but in a way where viewers can still connect and relate to many of the struggles that she faces. While coming across as harsh and irrational, as the film moves along a more vulnerable and soft side of the character is unleashed, making the film an intriguing watch. The complexity that comes through in the character of Isabelle forms such an intimate bond with the audience and adds to the film’s overall depth and influence.
The music throughout the film provides a more original experience with many of the tracks coming from Jaden Smith himself. Contrasting the darker and more serious moments, the alternative hip hop melodies add a lighter uplifting feel to the film.
The extraordinary acting from Cara Delevigne as the character Isabelle is what gives the film the emotional drive to make it such a success. Her ability to embody the character and exert such strong emotions in critical scenes is what creates the believability that consumes viewers. Delevigne excels in the emotional scenes and those scenes are what make the film and overall message so powerful.
The various settings throughout the film add another interesting element to the movie. The settings vary from rural suburbs to a more grungy city feel which adds to the storyline of Daryn coming out of the bubble of his suburban life. The setting in different parts of the city incorporates an adventurous and wild side to the film, making it diverse and pleasurable for a variety of people.
Released on Dec. 10, “Life in a Year” is rated PG-13 and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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