Nine Days
dir. Edson Oda · 2021
Life is a precious opportunity that requires introspection and acceptance of one's past to truly embrace the journey ahead.
Will observes the lives of others through screens, waiting for a new soul to fill a void left by death. As he interacts with candidates for life, particularly the spirited Emma, he confronts his own past and the choices that define him. Watching this film feels like a deep dive into the essence of being, where every moment is laden with the weight of potential and the bittersweet nature of existence.
Will (Winston Duke) spends his days in a remote outpost watching the live Point of View (POV) on TV's of people going about their lives, until one subject perishes, leaving a vacancy for a new life on earth. Soon, several candidates - unborn souls - arrive at Will's to undergo tests determining their fitness, facing oblivion when they are deemed unsuitable. But Will soon faces his own existential challenge in the form of free-spirited Emma (Zazie Beetz), a candidate who is not like the others, forcing him to turn within and reckon with his own tumultuous past. Fueled by unexpected power, he discovers a bold new path forward in his own life. Making his feature-film debut after a series of highly acclaimed and award-winning short films and music videos, Japanese Brazilian director Edson Oda delivers a heartfelt and meditative vision of human souls in limbo, aching to be born against unimaginable odds, yet hindered by forces beyond their will.
Talking points
- the nature of existence
- the impact of choices on identity
- the role of observation in understanding life
- the concept of free will
