Audience Member
A must watch for all budding filmmakers- this is a nano budget feature film which shows that you don't need a big budget multimillion dollar to create art.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/22/23
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Audience Member
Senn is peculiar and wonderful and should not be missed.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/11/23
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Audience Member
This movie which I happened on by complete chance (Amazon Instant Video) had me intrigued just from reading the synopsis. "Charles Dickens meets Issac Asimov" was in the first line. It started a little slow and dismal, but once over the initial hump, the imagery and plot line had me. Maybe not the biggest Hollywood budget, the most famous actors or jaw dropping action, but haven't we all seen enough of that? As far as a Sci-fi Indie film goes, this is a gem in the rough.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/03/23
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Audience Member
"Senn" is an imaginative delight, which constantly coaxes you to think, by both ruminative and gestalt processes, about the human condition. In this our own unique perception of the film mirrors the mental and emotional challenges faced by the character Senn, especially through the dreams and visions he experiences. Born on an environmentally decimated and spiritually corrosive planet, Senn is an ordinary factory worker, yet coincidentally his destiny is linked to that of an immense artifact light years distant, the Polychronom, which has a mysterious purpose.
When a vast alien spacecraft arrives to convey Senn to the Polychronom, the movie undergoes a radical shift and suddenly nothing is as straightforward as it seemed. Nevertheless the rich symbolism is clear: whereas before the stark bands of light and shadow in an abandoned building fell across Senn and Kana like bars, now these same two characters find themselves in a lush, Eden-like habitat provided by their alien hosts, and thus surrounded by a leaf-filtered radiance. During this physical voyage, Senn must make a philosophical and psychological journey, while we the audience are given time for our minds to play, clues to decipher, and cues from which to expand our thoughts and feelings.
What gives "Senn" its power to intrigue as well as entertain are the authenticity it brings to every tiny detail, the beauty captured even in the wasted scenery of Pyom, and the deftness of its storytelling. It was certainly not necessary to create an entirely new language for "Senn", however that amazing level of attentiveness comes through on screen and enhances the film tremendously. There are gems of true loveliness in water droplets, or sleeve stitching which the camera reveals, but considering the relative lack of special effects of any kind, the Polychronom is an absolutely breath taking work of art. As for the writing itself, the plot is compelling and the characterization is deep, particularly that of the remarkably genuine alien intelligence who interacts with Senn and Kana. It is said that the best teachers show you not what to think, but how. In that respect, therefore, "Senn" is a good and enjoyable teacher.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/04/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Senn is a majestically crafted film that explores the concept of what it means to be human against an initial backdrop of despair and depression that quickly turns to beauty and wonder.
The film is set upon another planet, one which has been inhabited by a faceless corporation and filled with factories where humans work for little pay and no hope of a better life. Senn is a lowly factory worker who leads a pointless existence making crap for people who don't care, or even know about his plight. This is a stark comparison to the lives of sweat shop workers in the real world who work mind numbing jobs for people who neither know or want to know about the reality of their lives. This is a wonderful thought provoking issue which underpins the films opening acts.
The films true beauty though lies once Senn discovers that there is a sentient alien intelligence watching him. This alien plucks him from his monotonous existence and takes him and his partner on a journey of profound exploration, though not everything is as it first seems. Senn's sanity lies in the balance, resting on a knifes edge ready to topple one way or the other, and yet he is the chosen one destined to fulfill a mysterious mission and save civilization.
Senn is a riveting and thoroughly entertaining film that not only tells an intelligent story but does so with a mastery of artistry that is sadly rare to find in cinema.
The films limited use of special effects are done to complement the story rather than to replace or overpower it. At its heart Senn is not a special effect heavy science-fiction extravaganza, it is a philosophical exploration of our existence and the misconceptions therein.
Some of the acting does feel a little stilted, unnatural and frankly off putting at times. At points the poor delivery of lines takes away some of the shine from the inherently intelligent storytelling beneath. Thankfully though this is mostly contained within the films opening few scenes and once the sentient beings arrive the film kicks into high gear. Overall those moments of forced acting are fleeting and don't subtract too much from your overall entertaining experience.
Senn's biggest skill is in creating a beautiful cinematic experience that is majestically shot, wonderfully directed and is intellectually stimulating. It's an excellent mix that really needs to be seen to be believed.
I haven't touched on the story line much because quite frankly I don't think I can really explore it's context and it's connotations in any form of true justice in the five hundred words or so I have for this review. And even if I could I wouldn't want to spoil even a second of the cerebral exploration that is Senn.
Senn makes you question things and makes you explore new concepts but above all it entertains you, from the opening scene to the final credits it's an entertaining ride that will keep you hooked in its psychological journey. I heartily recommend that everyone checks out Senn, and you know what? I think I may go and experience it all over again.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
Full Review
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