“2073” is a dystopian futuristic documentary drama-style film. In Asif Kapadia’s futuristic world, we see a world controlled by libertarians, dictators, and tech bros. In this world, there is no dissent and no freedom. The story takes place in San Francisco and the narrator is a woman called Ghost. Ghost explains that there was a worldwide apocalyptic event that upended American life decades earlier. She now lives in an abandoned mall, where she seeks refuge from surveillance drones, brutal authorities, Big Tech, climate catastrophe and autocracy.
These are the hallmarks of Kapadia’s vision of the future. You see, the scariest part about this film isn’t the science fiction. It’s the fact that it could be our reality. The film has scenes that are purely nonfiction, however, montages of real-life footage are paired with expert commentary. This single-handedly shows us that nonfiction could very well become fiction and it has in the past.
During the Ghost’s narration, it shows her dumpster diving in order to provide for others. The film also shows real-life footage of refugees and migrants living in dark areas- eating whatever they could salvage. It showed children and families in landfills. It showed dead children on the streets. This was all real.
The story also shows the importance of journalists. The story shows hope in terms of holding leaders to power. This helps the audience counter the feeling of impending doom.
When it comes to the blurring of real life and dystopia, this film does a phenomenal job and it’s very fascinating.
I don’t want to spoil the ending, but take my word for it, when I say it was very depressing. There is no happy ever after. Now it’s easy to throw away the claims of this movie, but in all honesty, this could very well be our future. One where human life isn’t valued, and money comes first. The worst part is we are already living it in the present. How much worse can it get in the future?
