Animalia Review: Alaoui’s Hypnotic Debut Is Ambitious & Inspiring [Sundance]

Animalia Review: Alaoui’s Hypnotic Debut Is Ambitious & Inspiring [Sundance] Sundance2023

Sofia Alaoui, short film grand jury prize winner at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, debuted her feature, Animalia, on January 20. The film stars scene-stealer Oumaïma Barid in an emotionally transformative role that is a standout of the festival. It contains stunning visuals thanks to cinematographer Noé Bach and a haunting score from Amine Bouhafa.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Itto , a very pregnant wife to successful businessman Amine , dreams of a day with peace and quiet away from his snooty family. When she finally gets her wish, Itto spends her day dancing through the halls of opulent décor and snacking on candy without the judgment of her elitist mother-in-law. But when the government declares a state of emergency due to ominous encounters, Itto longs to reunite with her family.

Alaoui’s script begins to also test Itto’s faith after several encounters leave her on the outskirts of Khourigba, which is where Amine is located. Soon, she must rely on her wits and resourcefulness instead of her money with the help from a friendly stranger Fouad . His coldness is only due to Itto’s insistence on using money to make everything work in her favor. In these moments, the script shrewdly examines class prejudice in a way that reminds its viewers that money can’t solve everything.

The moments in which the themes of Animalia intersect are what makes Alaoui’s ambitious feature worth watching. Though it never becomes clear how the nebulous phenomenon came to be and what the intent is from the invaders, the film displays a beautiful character study of a desperate woman who ultimately seeks meaning in her new-found disoriented life.

A strong showcase of inspiring and bold storytelling, Animalia is how to make a quality film that boasts ambiguity and character growth. A scrutinization of elitism mixed with a healthy dose of challenging faith and purpose, Sofia Alaoui’s creative sci-fi debut is hypnotic and inspiring. It doesn’t always work in exhibition, but the storytelling is sincere in how it depicts its themes while questioning the need for humanity.

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