Egghead Republic, the newest movie from the pair of writer/directors Pella Kågerman (Aniara) and Hugo Lilja (Aniara), teases an interesting premise that is excelled by some terrific performance, but ultimately suffocates from its own ideas and on-the-nose reveal. While failing to meet its mark entirely, the cinematography by Malin Gutke (Nelly Rapp – The Dark Forest) and direction keep the audience fully engaged, making for an interesting watch even with a script that could’ve used a slightly tighter focus and potentially even weirder scope.
Egghead Republic focuses on an alternate reality where the Cold War never ended and the now soviet Kazakhstan has been struck by an atomic bomb. Completely closed off and isolated now, Dino Davis (Tyler Labine) runs a local outlet that is in the vein of VICE news and TMZ but more focused on news than gossip called the Kalamazoo Herald. Dino is determined to get into the radioactive zone to be the first ever reporter to document what goes on in there and how bad the radiation is so he assembles a team of like-minded individuals, Gemma (Emma Creed) and Turan (Arvin Kananian). However, he needs an in and an illustrator wanting to make a name for herself, Sonja (Elle Rae Rappaport), comes along. The work-for-exposure model is at play here and the doughy-eyed hopeful illustrator is plump for the picking so off they go to a USA- and Russian-controlled nuclear spot in Kazakhstan. Gemma, Sonja, and Turan all want to make a name for themselves and work for the Herald so this is a no brainer for them, even if it is arguably one of the most dangerous places on Earth. What ends up occurring behind that sanctioned and enclosed wall is nothing you can expect, that is of course unless you are a conspiracy theorist.
Ella Rae Rappaport as Sonja in EGGHEAD REPUBLIC. Photo courtesy of TIFF.
Egghead Republic is based on and adapted from the novel by Arno Schmidt, a tense, interesting, and captivating read. The translation to screen resulted in more things to get enamoured by, but the reveal seems more apparent simply because we are shown the whole world rather than having our perspective confined. However, the downfall ultimately is the fantastical elements at play. The story which bridges exploitation, toxic masculinity, and the alike is much more interesting and engaging but it may prove to be too hard of a watch; the fantastical elements break up this tension and unease. It’s truly a catch-22 as one leaves the audience feeling completely disturbed while one breaks that tension in favour of a stronger science fiction vibe.
Elle Rae Rappaport (Alone in Space) is the clear breakout star of the movie. She is transcendent in every scene she is in and plays the wide-eyed hopeful perfectly, encapsulating every raw emotion that she goes through from realizing why she was brought on to experiencing what happens to her while on the other side of the wall, and her final moments in the film just transcend the screen and outshine the other performances here twofold. However, juxtaposing the hopefulness and sorrow that Rappaport brings is Tyler Labine (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) who plays crusty scumbag nearly effortlessly and will send a chill down anyone’s spine for how unlikable and slimy his portrayal is.
Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja provide a thoughtful, albeit dark look at this alternative reality and a world where guerilla journalism still exists and is thriving. The issue may either lay in the adaptation of the source material veering off the original story in favor of something more whimsical and science fiction-focused. Overall, there is a great story within Egghead Republic that gets overshadowed by the whimsical elements.
Screening during Toronto International Film Festival 2025.
For more information, head to the official Toronto International Film Festival Egghead Republic webpage.
Final Score: 3 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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