While Snowpiercer comments on the climate crisis, Ex Machina on the dangers of AI, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always centers around women’s reproductive rights, Aire, Just Breathe attempts to tackle all these topics at once. Directed by Leticia Tonos, this condensed dystopian sci-fi was selected as the Dominican Republic’s entry for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. While it wasn’t ultimately nominated, Aire, Just Breathe received critical acclaim, winning The Fantastic Pavilion Award at Cannes and competing for accolades at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
The Woman
The story is set in 2147. After a terrible chapter of our future, referred to only as the Great Chemical War, the Earth has become extremely hostile, most men have become infertile, and humanity has nearly gone extinct. One of the last survivors left is Tania (Sophie Gaëlle), who scrapes by in an underground bunker. Her only companion is Vida (voiced by Paz Vega), a HAL 9000-styled AI model. Tania’s days are drowned in routine and, more often than not, frustration, as she tries to grow her own fruits and vegetables – only to eat the same dried dinner as the day before. And the day before. And the day before.
The Man
Tania’s most important project, however, is nothing less than saving humanity through a range of reproductive experiments. The row of anonymous artificial wombs standing in the dim light of the bunker is one of the strongest and most thought-provoking visuals of the film. The solitary, but balanced cohabitation of Tania and Vida is suddenly disrupted when Azarias (Jalsen Santana), a mysterious traveler who could help them save humanity – or destroy all their efforts – shows up on their doorstep. She decides to let him in. Without giving too much away, this decision directly leads to a scene towards the end of the movie, where she is left bleeding out on the floor.
The AI
The three actors – two of whom are seen on the screen and the third can only be heard – give solid performances, creating suspense, as well as romantic tension. The cinematography is gorgeous, and the logistics of Tania’s life in the bunker are explained clearly without feeling forced. That being said, Aire, Just Breathe is one of the movies that should theoretically work, but it doesn’t. At least not entirely. The plot twist is predictable, and the vast array of important themes introduced may be more than the movie can effectively handle. While it checks some of the boxes of a good dystopian sci-fi movie, it doesn’t bring anything new to the genre. Ironically, several moments in the film made me think: “This could have been written by AI.”
Overall, there is no reason not to watch Aire, Just Breathe, but no real reason to watch it either. The cinematography and performances work, and huge effort from the filmmakers to make the movie work cannot be denied. Nevertheless, if one wants to watch a movie about climate change, AI and reproductive rights, it is better to just watch Snowpiercer, Ex Machina and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
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