Movie #140 Code 46 *2003*

Tim Robbins - William Geld
Samatha Morton - Maria Gonzales
Michael Winterbottom (Director)

Last year I saw Children of Men at a film festival for dispopian future movies.  That was the only film I was able to see at that event.  I did however get the program that was handed out.  I listed films like A Clockwork Orange, Brazil and Blade Runner.  It also had a film that I had never heard of named Code 46.  It was the only movie on the program that I hadn't seen so I added it to my Netflix queue.  Netflix in turn added it to their Watch Instant list this week and check it out the other night.

Code 46 takes place in a world that is similar to the world we live in now, but with some major differences.  It is largely set in Shanghai, but not the Shanghai that exists now.  The city is surrounded by a desert and there are border patrols everywhere.  The situation is that the world government is controlling all breeding habits to avoid genetic mutations.  You are only permitted to mate with people that have a different genetic code to a certain percent. 

Some other differences between our world and the world in the movie is the language.  There is a universally spoken language.  It seems to be mostly English with elements of Chinese and Spanish (Latin) mixed in.  One of the things that I loved about this film is that it never spoon feed me this information.  It never felt obligated to explain or justify its self.  It simply presented the world and let the rules of that world unfold naturally.  There was little to no exposition as to why things are the way they are.  I love it when a script and film maker trusts their audience so much.  I could see how this film could push away more pedestrian viewers.  Fans of the Twilight series and movies like Inception can be used to or even requiring all the plot elements to be spelled out to them.

The movie is about a man that has taken a virus that provides him that gift of empathy.  After only being told one personal thing about you, he can tell your entire life story.  All the way down to your computer password.  He is in Shanghai investigating some theft in a company that manufactures "passports".  Only in this world your passport has your genitc code on it. The government controls all mating for the purposes of procreation.  You are not allowed to mate with anyone that has a similar genetic code (which is apparently a problem in this world).  He questions Maria, realizes she is the one stealing the passports, then falls in love with her.

The performances in this movie are pretty strong too.  Samantha Morton continues to amaze me with her range.  There is also something innocent in her voice that really helps in this role. Tim Robbins was decent in his performance.  The visuals in the movie were off putting at the start.  There was a lot of faded out colors and overpowering white tones.  Later in the film after they got into the city I found the color scheme more tolerable.

Code 46 is an interesting take on the distopian future genre.  I has no clue that this was a Michael Winterbottom film until I saw his name in the opening creidts.  I give Code 46★★★1/2.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.