Rumours surprised me. It was sort of sold as zombies chase down the world leaders of the G7 which would have been a good movie too. But this ended up being something more complex and bizarre in the good uses of both those words. Filled with political satire and plenty to chew over after the credits role, Rumours is both farcical (in the traditional sense of that word) and entertaining.
Rumours is set at the G7 and features almost exclusively the presidents and prime minsters of those countries alone together attempting to survive some sort of global apocalypse. But more than that it's about the existential nature of leadership in the nation state age, deconstructing our assumptions that are bred into us in western democracies. It's brilliant in a nerdy satirical way and just downright funny through most of it.
It also manages to be absurd. Honestly it is a bit tame for Guy Madden traditionalists but Rumours is still a little off and might be off-putting to more mainstream audiences. But for those who appreciate the bizarre, especially the bizarre that roasts/skewers our assumptions about world order Rumours finds a sweet spot.
Cate Blanchett may be the biggest star here (and she does play a strong role) but it's Dupuis as the Canadian Prime Minster who's arc is most central to the plot. This coming from the Canadian perspective makes sense and perhaps make it even more remote for world audiences. However it also creates unique critiques as the Great White North is often less criticized than its other western partners. Dupuis is excellent here treating his character with a great respect despite the farcical nature of the story.
Rumours may not be exactly what one would expect. But it is fascinating and darkly entertaining as it is.
Rumours
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, Charles Dance, Roy Dupuis, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Denis Ménochet, Rolando Ravello, Take Hirohira
Writers/Directors: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
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