Upside Down (2012 film)

Studio 37
Industry	Film production
Headquarters	Montreal, Canada
Products	Motion pictures

Upside Down (in Quebec French: ) is a 2012 romantic science fantasy motion picture written and directed by Juan Diego Solanas, featuring performances by Jim Sturgess, Kirsten Dunst, and Timothy Spall.

Plot

Adam serves as the narrator, describing a distinctive binary-planet system characterized by "dual gravity," where each planet’s matter is influenced exclusively by its own gravitational pull. This universe operates under three fundamental principles: matter is attracted solely by the gravity of its native planet; weight can be counterbalanced through the use of matter from the opposite world (referred to as inverse matter); and prolonged contact between matter and inverse matter results in combustion.

The inhabitants are divided into two legally segregated societies: the wealthy upper planet known as Up Top, and the impoverished lower planet called Down Below. Up Top purchases inexpensive oil from Down Below and resells electricity at a premium. Interaction between residents of these worlds is strictly prohibited, with violations punishable by imprisonment or death. Despite this, Up Top citizens often venture Down Below to enjoy novelties such as dancing on ceilings. The sole formal connection between both worlds is maintained by the Trans-world corporation headquarters.

Raised in an orphanage on Down Below, Adam inherits a clandestine recipe for a flying pancake from his great-aunt, which involves pollen harvested by pink bees that gather resources from both planets.

During childhood, Adam clandestinely meets Eden, a resident of Up Top, near the mountainous boundary separating their worlds. They form a bond, but when their meetings are uncovered, Adam sustains injuries defending Eden. Subsequently, his aunt is detained and her residence destroyed.

A decade later, Adam invents an anti-gravity cosmetic that enables matter to react simultaneously to both gravitational forces. Upon spotting Eden on television employed at Trans-world, he perfects his formula and secures a position there to locate her. He befriends Bob, an employee from Up Top who assists him in reaching out to Eden.

Posing as an Up Top worker, Adam’s clothing ignites due to contact with inverse matter, forcing him back Down Below. After Bob is dismissed from his job, he clandestinely provides Adam with his identification to gain access to Up Top. Adam arranges a meeting with Eden; however, upon learning his true identity, she escapes. Using Bob’s ID, Adam evades arrest and reveals that he has withheld the formula’s essential component, rendering Trans-world dependent on him.

With Bob’s assistance, Adam reconnects with Eden as she begins recalling their past. Police intervene; Eden is taken into custody while Adam survives a fall between the planets thanks to an inverse matter vest he wears. Trans-world offers to drop charges if Adam surrenders his formula and ceases contact with Eden.

Adam returns to Down Below resigned to never seeing Eden again. Nevertheless, Eden seeks out Bob’s help; Bob informs Adam that he has secured the beauty cream patent under Albert and Co., ahead of Trans-world. Utilizing Adam’s technique, Bob demonstrates he can neutralize gravitational effects without relying on inverse matter equipment and reveals he has arranged a date for Adam.

The story concludes with Eden expecting twins alongside scenes depicting prosperity in both societies, symbolizing how the anti-gravity invention fostered economic development and social integration across the two planets.

Cast

Jim Sturgess as Adam Kirk
Kirsten Dunst as Eden Moore
Timothy Spall as Bob Boruchowitz
Jayne Heitmeyer as Head Executive
Blu Mankuma as Albert
Holly Uloth as Paula
Nicholas Rose as Pablo
Heidi Hawkins as Reporter

Release

The movie made its debut in Russia on 23 August 2012, followed by a limited release in the United States on 15 March 2013, initially screening in just 11 theaters. It premiered in France during the Mauvais Genre Film Festival on 27 March 2013 and later received a broader release through Warner Bros. on 1 May 2013. Distribution rights for North America were secured by Millennium Entertainment, while Icon handled the UK distribution.

The film became available on home media formats, such as Blu-ray and DVD, starting 25 June 2013.

Production

Studio 37, a French production company, initially pursued an American co-producer and attracted interest from Hollywood; however, to preserve the director’s artistic vision, they ultimately collaborated with European partners. The production was a joint effort between Studio 37, Onyx Films, and Montreal-based Transfilm, operating with a budget of $50 million.

In 2009, reports indicated that Kirsten Dunst and Emile Hirsch were considered for the principal roles; eventually, Jim Sturgess took over Hirsch’s part. Filming commenced in Montreal in February 2010. Both shooting and post-production occurred in the United States to benefit from advantageous tax incentives. Producer Dimitri Rassam emphasized that while French financing was essential, filming there was impractical due to less favorable tax rebate conditions.

Reception

Upside Down holds a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 48 critiques, with an average score of 4.8 out of 10. The critical consensus suggests that despite an inventive premise and a capable cast, the film lacks sufficient dramatic depth to complement its impressive visual effects. On Metacritic, it received a score of 45 out of 100 from 22 reviews, reflecting mixed or average opinions.

Critic Mick LaSalle commended the film’s "brilliant" and "imaginative foundation" alongside its fully realized visuals but described the narrative as underwhelming, noting it "starts small and remains small," thereby missing the chance to further develop its distinctive concept.

Wired characterized the movie as "an unusual yet ultimately flawed combination," critiquing its emphasis on visual spectacle at the expense of narrative originality. The Star-Ledger praised the "astonishing visual impact" and "remarkable sense of space and style," acknowledging the film’s political commentary regarding resource exploitation between worlds but concluded that it fails to thoroughly explore these themes.

Frank Scheck described the film as perplexing, pointing out that grasping its intricate physics demands considerable effort. While he recognized its imaginative visuals, he found the plot’s complexity and symbolism off-putting, labeling it a "dizzyingly convoluted sci-fi romance" inspired by Romeo and Juliet.

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