There's no possible way that a person was behind the "idea" or story developed in "Off Season". Maybe some AI tool was given instructions that
went like "Create a fragmented screenplay revolving on couples and relationship problems" and it was up for the editor to imitate the cinema of Godard
and Terrence Malick with countless jump cuts going back and forth, unusual camera angles and all. The geniality of those artists was not found in here.
This is a total mess that was never engaging, enlightening or entertaining. Painfully confusing and chaotic, far from revealing anything worth thinking
about problematic relationships, traumas and how couples struggle to keep love and friendship alive after some form of loss.
Godard used to say that "a film should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. But not necessarily in that order". He's right, and proved it time
and again with his rebellious films that one could shake and subvert order, change the dynamics of presentation and storytelling in an unusual way and yet
deliver something coherent and complete. That's genius, even though not all of his films appeal greatly. But there was reasoning behind his transgression; in
this very film, it's all random bits and pieces that never sustain a whole.
We're told that the outline of this movie goes
about a couple going in an existential crisis that befriends another couple in the neighbourhood. That actual idea is splintered with one scene near the
beginning and the very final minutes; the majority of the so-called "story" revolves on insane flashbacks about both couples, how they almost lost each other -
one due to a family tragedy; the other was simply an ex-girlfriend who couldn't accept that the young man she loved moved on with his life, but she keeps
insisting on them being together.
If only the shattered glimpses thrown in a neglected and pretentious manner wasn't enough, it's the dialogues and situations given that turns the
movie into a disaster of cringe proportions. It's all dumb, small conversations between characters, friends and lovers acting in a very displicent manner, as if to
prove that what this damn pop culture drinks makes them all terrible friends, uncaring loving partners who bicker at anything and their banter are not even
funny to watch. The chronic disatisfaction of those youngsters are something to be studied. Mankind has plenty of moments and situations where people don't wanna
be in the exact place that they are; but that doesn't mean this happens all the time - otherwise life would be pointless and tedious. Those beautiful men and women simply can't stand being
with each other, but they insist and it all boils down to repetitive and annoying exchanges that go nowhere.
This is exactly why most viewers tend to watch what's trendy than trying something new but outside of radar. Because in the end, the little
expectations they'd have would be reduced to nothing but a waste of precious time. My advice to the makers of it is to watch movies in a religious manner,
take notes, read books and screenplays, and please do find a worthy idea to share. And avoid AI for getting ideas. 1/10.
