Directed by Brad Champagne, from a screenplay by Champagne & Brady Nelson, ‘Anamnesis’ is a short sci-fi drama that explores the illicit switch of human memories with the goal to be liberated from past-trauma. Jay Gillespie leads the cast as the central character, Fix, an underground memory hacker who raids the minds of innocent civilians to clear out the mental anguish suffered by his love interest (portrayed by Kim Jiang). In spite of the film’s futuristic concept, the film is essentially a tale about absconding from psychological hardship – and the perils of a quick fix solution.
The 16-minute narrative opens with Fix kidnapping a young woman to utilize her memories. After a fatal extraction, and a fruitless exchange, Fix is reluctantly faced with his own psycho-trauma – leading the character down a mine of self-destruction. Throughout the gritty narrative, Fix delivers voice-over narration – rewarding the audience with running commentary of his exploitation and mental well-being.
Champagne and Nelson have crafted a stellar short that is jam-packed with high drama, albeit grim. Jay Gillespie delivers a profound performance, navigating the characters self-inflicted downward spiral to near-perfection. Visually, the film is well shot with riveting cinematography and post-production. Lighting and sound are equally commendable. ‘Anamnesis’ is a fast-paced drama that will keep viewers engrossed till the closing credits. Highly recommended.
