“Best Sci-Fi”

★★★★

“If you enjoy Sci-Fi then this is a film for you!”

Sexuality and gender norms are explored when a chronically ill teen meets her new A.I. nurse, LEM.

This stylish and unique Sci-Fi from writers Kasia Kaczmarek and Felix Garriock is a breath of fresh air and is made with a complete understanding of storytelling. It’s clear that a lot of time and attention has been spent making this film with a group of talented filmmakers.

What we noticed first was the use of the single location which doesn’t feel overused, instead it adds to the feeling of being in isolation. The lighting is incredibly effective and creates a rich palette of colours which suit the genre perfectly. By using practical lighting, it doesn’t feel over produced for the sake of adding colour to the frame. The use of a projector in some scenes adds a unique and futuristic quality. These techniques mixed with the superb cinematography makes for a high end look which is very impressive.

Casting for this film was spot on. The performances from Sekela Nancy Ngamilo and Bailey Pilbeam hold this film together making a believable and powerful bond in a relatively short space of time. There is a genuine attraction between them both which jumps off the screen, something that could be explored further with a longer duration. Ngamilo creates an innocent and genuine character in Maeve that we would have loved to see more of. She looks great on-screen and was a perfect choice. Pilbeam’s monotoned and robotic delivery as LEM is especially good and feels totally believable, something which other actors would struggle with.

The 80s synthwave music fits the style of the film well and creates a stylish backdrop to the film which audiences will resonate with. The style of music likely influenced director Kasia Kaczmarek when making it as this is becoming popular in films. The score creates a coming of age aspect to the story which fits with the exploration of gender and sexuality.

If you enjoy Sci-Fi then this is a film for you. We only wish there was more of it to watch!

— APEX Film Awards