Many believe the best science fiction is used to explore, examine or otherwise interrogate the systems of society and humanity. Argentinian writer-director Juan Diego Solanas had a great idea exploring modern class structure with Upside Down. It’s a universe of two planets tied together in a fixed position, each possessing their own complete gravitational system. One planet, the “upper” has money and wealth, and is filled with thinkers and doers. The other planet, the “lower” is destitute, crumbling, and filled with workers who have few possessions or money. A single corporate tower connects the two, with a giant floor in the middle, “floor 0,” that has employees fixed to the top and bottom of the room. You see, every person is defined by the planet they were born on, and cannot gravitate to the other planet without “inverse” material to balance their weight. This has led to a society where people from above are allowed to slum it by going down below, but it has been deemed illegal for the people from below to visit the people above.
A solid enough premise. Maybe a little on the nose, but it has a solid understanding of class and class mobility. But, then it goes a bit kooky.
This is actually a Romeo and Juliet story where Jim Sturgess from the planet below is infatuates with Kirsten Dunst from the world above, especially after Dunst was ripped away from Sturgess at a rather young age. Sturgess’ brainchild for getting to the world above involves a facelifting cream made from the nectar of pink bees, who can traverse the gravities. And, somehow the romance and the facelifting cream become important parts of the plot, and…it’s all just a bit nuts.
What makes Upside Down such a memorable failure is the filmmaking that’s on display. The production design delivers on humongous conceptual bet. Canadian Pierre Gill is full of innovation and beauty, creating arresting images such that almost every frame of this movie could be a painting unto itself. Upside Down is such a singular gorgeous vision that elements lile the ridiculous Bee Pollen story takes the awful potential to campy hubris.