I Origins - Im Auge des Ursprung (I Origins)
U.S.A. 2014

Opening 25 Sep 2014

Directed by: Mike Cahill
Writing credits: Mike Cahill
Principal actors: Michael Pitt, Steven Yeun, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Brit Marling, Dorien Makhloghi

Eyes are windows to the soul, they say. For Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt), however, they are windows to break-through research. By finding the original ancestral species of the human eye, he wants to debunk the “intelligent design” theory once and for all. While he is collecting pictures of human eyes for his studies, he meets his soul mate. Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) is the exact opposite of Ian: mystical and child-like. But tragedy hits them, and Sofi passes away. Years later, Ian is an accomplished researcher and now married to Karen (Brit Marling), his former lab partner. At this time, iris scans are being introduced as means of identification. When Ian’s and Karen’s son is born, they are shocked to learn that their son’s iris is not unique, but matches the one of someone who has recently died. Now, Ian has to confront his own belief system: Will he stick to his strictly scientific view of the world, or will he dare to believe in something that can’t be proven by evolution?

I Origins is not just a movie about “science vs. spirituality”. It rather shows how limiting exclusive points of view can be. The plot is not too plausible, but if you see it as a paragon and go with the dreamy atmosphere, this movie can be a touching experience. (Katia Trost)