In this innovative yet emotionally resonant sci-fi narrative, history echoes itself by drawing inspiration from the concept of Groundhog Day, weaving a profound commentary on life and mortality. Departing from the conventional norms of the genre, the focus shifts towards a middle-aged female protagonist — a scientist with expertise in physics — who faces the convergence of her 55th birthday and final moments in the same week. While there exists a subtle resistance to the inevitable, Omni Loop distinguishes itself by not solely revolving around breaking the recurring cycle; rather, Bernardo Britto’s creation delves into confronting the unavoidable, gradually transitioning from genre tropes to a subdued yet poignant climax.
Upon our initial encounter with Zoya Lowe, we witness her as a young girl with the prophetic potential to “achieve extraordinary feats” and “alter the course of the world.” Fast forward to the present, portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker, Zoya’s circumstances take a bleak turn as medical scans reveal a looming threat in the form of a growing black hole within her lungs, with doctors estimating her time left to “maybe another week.” Despite her family’s earnest attempts to uplift her spirits through beach visits and a surprise birthday celebration, Zoya maintains her composure, focusing on finalizing her latest scientific manuscript while tending to her elderly mother in a nursing facility.
However, Zoya’s last week unfolds far from ordinary; during a candid moment with a stranger at the care home, she discloses, “Can I share a secret? I’ve experienced this before.” It emerges that a pivotal event triggers a time loop after her birthday gathering, marked by a sudden nosebleed, ingestion of a mysterious pill, and a subsequent temporal reset.
While the enigmatic pills remain shrouded in mystery, their significance amplifies when Zoya encounters another visitor at the retirement center — Paula Campos () — a young scientist researching temporal dynamics and well-versed in Zoya’s illustrious career and quantum mechanics publications. Viewing Paula as her beacon of hope, Zoya embarks on a collaborative scientific venture, wherein each week necessitates a fresh start for Paula, despite their cumulative progress.
Evident from the outset, the scientific pursuit serves as a narrative device, exemplified when Paula proposes analyzing Zoya’s pills with The Nanoscopic Man, an experimental subject reduced to invisibility and confined to a laboratory drawer for perpetual diminution.
As Zoya delves into her past and contemplates the junctures where her once-promising career veered off course, she grapples with self-doubt and retrospection, pondering the untrodden paths and unlived experiences that could have equipped her to confront her current predicament. Unlike Darren Aronofsky’s speculative exploration in The Fountain, Zoya refrains from transforming into a mystical sage, steering the storyline towards a portrayal of a woman prematurely facing mortality, laden with profound introspection and rueful contemplation of missed opportunities.
Spanning 107 minutes, the narrative marginally overstays its welcome, primarily attributed to the repetitive time loops and the gradual sidelining of Paula’s character, despite the palpable chemistry shared with Zoya. The enigmatic origin and longevity of the pills, spanning over five decades, pose minor queries, albeit inconsequential within the film’s magical realist framework. Ultimately, it is Parker’s grounded portrayal that anchors the film, navigating through its occasional narrative meanders and infusing even the most clichéd sentimental moments with authenticity.
The titular reference to Omni Loop, seemingly reminiscent of a prescription from a surreal medical drama, draws its inspiration from Florida’s Metromover public transit system. This revelation encapsulates the essence of a dying woman’s parting ruminations: a metaphorical journey mapping past and present destinations, swiftly unfolding as she embraces the realization that the forthcoming stop marks her final destination.
Title: Omni Loop
Festival: (Narrative Spotlight)
Sales agent: WME
Director/screenwriter: Bernardo Britto
Cast: Mary Louise Parker, Ayo Edebiri, Hannah Pearl Utt, Chris Witaske, Carlos Jacott, Harris Yulin, Steven Maier, Eddie Cahill
Running time: 1 hr 47 min