Argentine director Marcos Mereles’ choice of title ‘All is Vanity’ is a less-than-oblique reference to “Vanity, vanity; all is vanity” from the Book of Ecclesiastes from the Old Testament, where it refers to the pointlessness of human activity. Here the characters spend their time waiting around, initially for the model, who is late to arrive on set. Not long after, they wait in bored distress, unable to see how to complete their project when such a vital participant has vanished into thin air. “What does man gain by all his toil under the sun?”
Luke (Yaseen Aroussi) and Alessandra (Rosie Steel)
Biblical references abound, including mentions of the notorious ‘Apple of Eden’ fame. There is a disjointed, abstract quality that is intriguing. The complex cerebral narrative and the pretentiousness of the characters fit beautifully in this context. The plot appears to be based on a floating premise of unreality. We discover layers upon layers and when the characters appear to get closer to reality, they are also turned upside down, like strange reflections in a mirror.
Yet the feeling remains of fragments that don’t quite fit, logic that isn’t and stilted dialogue that feels deliberately artificial. Is anyone there for real? There is a pervading tension and a feeling of claustrophobic helplessness, is it merely “futile, a pursuit of the wind?”
The Photographer (Sid Phoenix), Luke (Yaseem Aroussi) and Model (Isabelle Bonfrer)
Setting the film in the stunning Belt Craft Studios adds to the atmosphere. We find huge spaces with an eclectic choice of props scattered here and there, visually interesting and yet, what is really going on? Like in some Harold Pinter plays, the dialogue does not always seem to link to what you are seeing, adding to the sensation that no one is really communicating. They are in the same room but are they on the same level, or in an alternative universe? As intern Luke (Yaseen Aroussi) teases in the movie: “… if the scene or the dialogue doesn’t add to the film, it doesn’t belong there.” Will they find the solution? This disturbs us and the story then puts this all to the test, with some intrigue.
Murat Ersahin’s photography keeps the visuals interesting at all times, and the strong performances from the cast carry the story’s abstract qualities along. At times, the film is reminiscent of some of the wacky surrealistic elements found in Spike Jonze’s “Being John Malkovich (1999)”.
Marcos Mereles
Argentine born Marcos Mereles is based in London. He has produced a number of short films that were screened at more than 40 festivals around the world, picking up a number of award nominations and wins. When faced with this complex feature script, he has not flinched from the challenge and it shows promise of more exciting work to come.
‘All is Vanity’ is Marcos Mereles’ debut feature, had its world première as part of the Official selection at the 2021 London Film Festival and will be released in UK cinemas in October 2022.
ALL IS VANITY (2021) will be released in UK cinemas on 14th October 2022
Written, produced & directed by Marcos MERELES / Co-producer:Nelson Mereles / DOP: Murat Ersahin /Editor:Damian Tetelbaum / Original music: Tristan Seewer / Malbec Films
CAST: Sid Phoenix: photographer / Yaseen Aroussi: intern /Isabelle Bonfrer: model Eve/ Rosie Steel: makeup artist/ Christopher Sherwood: film director / Studio owner: Sam Halpenny
