Cloud Atlas can not be explained in a one-minute, 41-second clip. The narrative scope is far too wide, the thematic content far too dense to process in a bite-sized bit. But a new clip from the forthcoming epic does hint at the ways co-directors Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski use seamless editing to connect the seven storylines into one massive essay on destiny. Check it out below, but please be warned that it is spoilery:
Taken out of context, the clip likely makes no sense at all. It’s a video montage of the various characters bobbing in and out of the Cloud Atlas timeline. And as you might already know (if you have been reading about the film ahead of its release), this adaptation of David Mitchell’s sprawling novel spans generations, touching on a slave ship crossing oceans and fast-forwarding to a futuristic Seoul and beyond. You’ll get a glimpse of each of the characters (as played by such actors as Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae and Hugh Grant. And in the clip, almost all of them have arrived at a crossroads. Where they go from there is answered in the film’s dizzying second half.
The challenge to Atlas lies in linking the stories, even though they often take place decades apart. And as the clip shows, the virtuosity of the filmmakers leads to a smooth, engaging feature film that most of you will embrace. Cloud Atlas opens in 2D and IMAX on Oct. 26. Get a ticket and enjoy the ride.
