FILM Here There have been high expectations since rumors of production in 2022. The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, also brings together Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. With these three names, Here like a reunion Forrest Gump30 years after his success.
Plus, Here is an adaptation of a comic with the same title. This novel by Richard McGuire, first published in 1989, was later called the patron of a new style of comics, with panels that were not monotonous.
Here, which started with only 6 pages, in 2014 it was published again as a 304 page graphic novel. Still written and drawn by McGuire, in the 304 pages the concept of the story is still the same, namely changes from time to time in life, but from the same location, namely a family room in a house. The journey of that period is said to be very long because it even started from the era of the dinosaurs, when living rooms were once just one part of the wilderness.
Zemeckis, who was the best director at the 1995 Academy Awards, seems to really want to make a cinematic achievement by making Here. In fact, he was quite successful in presenting his cinematic experiments out of the box.
For around 1 hour 44 minutes, Zemeckis takes the audience on an adventure through time and proves his cinematic skill by presenting the dinosaur era beautifully until finally one location in Pennsylvania, United States, becomes the location of a house.
Just taking one point of view, namely from the family room, in accordance with what is in his novel, Zemckis is able to convey the message of how one place holds so many life journeys.
Not touching enough
It’s not just time travel, Here seems intended to take the audience on a human emotional journey that appears to have patterns and emotions that are not much different, even since ancient humans. Human stories cannot be separated from family stories.
The most important moments in life along with the most profound emotional stories, are always tied to family. For this reason, the family room is also a space that witnesses various moments of happiness, sadness, celebration and even moments of deep contemplation.
In the process of this adventure of time and life, Zemckis displays the story in comic-like panels that show events from time to time in one frame. With limited space, Zemckis was required to make good use of the existing property in that place.
Even though it presents a time adventure from the dinosaur era to the Covid-19 pandemic. The film still has one story focus, namely the story of the extended family of Al (Paul Bettany) and Rose (Kelly Reilly), especially their son, Richard (Hanks), who grows up and builds a family with Margaret (Wright). Hanks and Wright appear in a variety of age ranges, from teenagers to seniors, using technology de-agging.
From the story of Al and Rose’s extended family, the audience will be invited to follow their household drama, from meetings, separations, household conflicts, to life struggles, while seeing the characters go through various stages of life from young to old.
Unfortunately, even though it gets a thumbs up in terms of cinematics, the film doesn’t seem to provide the same depth from an emotional perspective. The words that sound a bit cliche also don’t reduce the blandness of this film. In fact, with words that are like sweet jargon, the already neat cinematic transition feels like a gimmick.
It is not surprising that this film did not receive good results from critics. On Tomatometer (rating from Rotten Tomatoes) the film costing around US$50 million (around Rp. 785 billion) only got a score of 38% from 55 reviews. Even so, the film is enough to cure the longing for Hanks and Wright’s acting competition again. (M-1)
#Cinematic #Experiment #Form #Living #Room
**Interview with Robert Zemeckis on His New Film “Here”**
**Interviewer:** Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Robert Zemeckis, the visionary director behind the highly anticipated film *Here*. Robert, thank you for joining us!
**Robert Zemeckis:** Thank you for having me!
**Interviewer:** *Here* is a reunion for you with Tom Hanks and Robin Wright after *Forrest Gump*. How does it feel to bring these talents together again after so many years?
**Robert Zemeckis:** It feels incredible! Working with Tom and Robin again brings a sense of nostalgia and excitement. We’ve all grown as artists, and I believe this project reflects that growth while honoring the magic we created with *Forrest Gump*.
**Interviewer:** The film is based on Richard McGuire’s graphic novel which creatively explores time and life through a single location. How did you approach translating that unique concept into a film?
**Robert Zemeckis:** The essence of the story really lies in the emotional journey of life observed through the lens of one family room. We wanted to maintain that depth and richness in a cinematic way. By using comic-like panels, we can show various moments across time, emphasizing how history, family, and personal stories intertwine, even within the same space.
**Interviewer:** The theme of time travel plays a significant role in *Here*. What message do you hope audiences take away regarding time and family during their viewing?
**Robert Zemeckis:** I hope audiences reflect on how every moment counts, from the joyous celebrations to the quiet contemplations. The family room serves as a witness to the numerous layers of human experience. It’s a reminder that time changes everything, but the essence of family remains central to our lives.
**Interviewer:** The visuals of *Here* promise to be extraordinary, particularly with your dedication to conveying the distant past, even the era of dinosaurs. How do you balance special effects with storytelling?
**Robert Zemeckis:** Striking that balance is critical. While I enjoy pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling, the heart of the film must always remain focused on the human experience. The effects enhance the narrative without overshadowing the emotional core, ensuring that viewers are engaged on both an intellectual and emotional level.
**Interviewer:** As you mentioned earlier, *Here* aims for out-of-the-box cinema. What was the most challenging aspect of bringing this project to life?
**Robert Zemeckis:** The biggest challenge was remaining faithful to the original graphic novel while crafting a feature-length narrative. We had to condense and expand the ideas found in those pages into a cohesive story that felt both expansive and intimate—without losing the unique artistic flair of the source material.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what do you hope will resonate with audiences the most when they see *Here*?
**Robert Zemeckis:** I hope they walk away with a renewed appreciation for the simple yet profound experiences that shape us—those moments shared in the places we call home. It’s about understanding the threads of history woven into our lives and how those threads connect us all.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Robert, for sharing your insights! We look forward to the premiere of *Here* on November 15th.
**Robert Zemeckis:** Thank you! I can’t wait for everyone to see it.
