Science fiction comes in a variety of subgenres and the first feature from Philippe Lupien and Marie-Hélène Viens breaks into the subgenre of science fiction romance, creating an other-worldly experience for the audience. While the end result may be something of a mixed bag, the journey is an interesting take on a character study that examines humanity on a different scope. You Are Not Alone examines what happens when we meet someone who can change the trajectory of our life, for better or worse, and ultimately throws a wrench into whatever plans were made for us with or without our knowledge. It’s truly a wide net of a study, but gets bogged down by its own execution.
Marianne Fortier as Rita in YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Photo courtesy of La Boîte à Fanny.
The film focuses on Léo (Pier-Luc Funk) who is a pizza delivery driver who has not much else going on for him. He delivers pizza, gets drunk, and vibes — he really doesn’t have any plans, any motivation, just exists on the plane that we call life. This all changes when he meets Rita (Marianne Fortier) who proves to Léo that maybe life is in fact worth living and doing something with. She’s a musician who sees something in him that Léo doesn’t even see in himself and they start off a whimsical romance that is sure to lift his outlook on life and spirits as a whole.
Pier-Luc Funk as Leo in YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Photo courtesy of La Boîte à Fanny.
This is all sweet and dandy except for the fact that this is the last thing lonely cab driver, John (François Papineau) wanted to happen. What is important to distinguish here is that John is an alien who needs to presumably feed on humans to stay alive. This is never explicitly said, but it is the assumption as he is hunting for the lonely souls. He wants to target the people who will simply not be missed or remembered, which is why John wants Léo . However, since Léo has now met Rita, John’s plan has taken an unexpected turn and what should have been “another day at the office” for John has turned into something more difficult and he ultimately has to decide if he wants to still target Léo or move onto a more obtainable target.
With Lupien and Viens both directing and writing, it is clear the talent exists in the latter more than the former. Not to say the direction isn’t strong, it just lacks inspiration and engagement. However, the script is the strongest suit even if it lacks that explosive punch. This is not solely located within the characters and their choices and development though, there is something so atmospheric about the script that lends itself to an extra level of eeriness that flows throughout You Are Not Alone. There is plenty that unnerves and creates a sense of unease throughout, provoking such raw emotions from the audience. It is safe to say these reactions and responses are simply because of how utterly relatable Léo is, and Funk (Matthias & Maxime) manages to deliver upon this exceedingly well. His ability to capture that early millennial who’s just going through the mundanity of day-to-day life, without much purpose or excitement for what is happening feels effortless, but simultaneously horrifically familiar. On the other end of this spectrum, though, is the completely juxtaposed character of Rita who is excellently portrayed by Marianne Fortier (Brain Freeze). Her giddiness and joy for life and expression of happiness while being intrigued and fascinated with Léo are simply infectious. Having these two characters so drastically different and play off each other to bring the best out of each makes the character study and exploration the strongest aspect of You Are Not Alone.
Francois Papineau as John in YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Photo courtesy of La Boîte à Fanny.
Philippe Lupien and Marie-Hélène Viens craft a romance that is blended with science fiction that unfortunately doesn’t lean into either category too heavily. While the exploration of both genres is touched upon, further fleshing them out would cast a wider net of appeal, but thankfully the brilliance distilled upon the film from the two leads brings the genre mashup to par and creates a world for the audience to get lost in, even if the payoff is slightly underwhelming.
Screening during Toronto International Film Festival 2024.
For more information, head to the official Toronto International Film Festival 2024 You Are Not Alone webpage.
Final Score: 3 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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