A graduate student, Ian Gray, is researching the evolution of human eyes with Karen and Kenny, in order to discredit creationists by proving that eyes have evolved. Seven years later, when the hospital takes an iris scan of his son and enters into the database, they appear to match with another person’s eyes, which suggested that their son may be some sort of reincarnation of the deceased man.
I Origins is an American science fiction drama film written, directed, and produced by Mike Cahill. The independent production premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2014. It is distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures, and opened in limited release on July 18, 2014. It won the Best Feature Length Film Award at the Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya on October 11, 2014.
I Origins is the second feature film by writer / director Mike Cahill after his earlier independent science fiction-drama, Another Earth (2011), also with actress Brit Marling. Cahill sold the film rights to Another Earth to Fox Searchlight Pictures at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. At that time he also sold a screenplay to what would be his next feature film titled I. Though during the development of I, after failing to “crack” some aspects of the story, Cahill instead decided to make an origin story for the film, in which he had a “rich back story for”.
About the Story
A graduate student, Ian Gray, meets an interesting woman, Sofi, at a Halloween party, and he photographs her eyes. They start to have sex in a washroom, but she abruptly leaves without providing her contact information. Gray is researching the evolution of human eyes with Karen and Kenny. Gray’s goal is to discredit creationists by proving that eyes have evolved.
One day, Gray sees a number of elevens all at one time. He gets on bus number 11, but gets off when a guide-dog starts barking at him. He sees a billboard cosmetics ad featuring Sofi’s unmistakable eyes, and uses it to track her down. Despite their different belief systems, Gray’s and Sofi’s relationship develops and they eventually plan to marry. On their would-be wedding day, Karen calls Gray, informing him of a species of worm that is blind, but has the DNA required to develop an eye. This is the breakthrough they have been searching for.
Sofi is upset, and suggests that humans are like the blind worm. Just because they cannot see light doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Just because humans can’t see God doesn’t mean that God doesn’t exist. Gray argues with her and grows impatient with her views, telling her that she is a “child.” Later that day, through a freak accident in an elevator, Sofi dies in his arms. Gray is distraught, and Karen takes over much of his research. One evening, she brings him a meal at his home. He breaks down, and she comforts him — leading to a more intimate situation.
Seven years later, Gray has written a book slamming the creationists and their belief that eyes haven’t evolved. Karen is pregnant with their first child. When the child is born, the hospital takes an iris scan of the baby. When it is entered into the database, they appear to match someone else’s eyes. This is tossed off as a glitch with the new system.
A few months later, a Dr. Simmons calls and suggests they test the baby for autism. The unusual test studies which seemingly random photos the baby is more drawn to. Gray and Karen determine that many of the photos are from Boise, Idaho. Gray travels there and finds that the person whose eyes matched their baby’s had died two years earlier — just before their baby was conceived, suggesting that their son may be some sort of reincarnation of the deceased man.
Gray’s former research partner, Kenny, is the creator of the iris database. He helps Gray and Karen run some iris photos of deceased people through the database to see if there are any recent matches. Sofi’s eyes match those of a young girl in India.
Gray travels to India to find her. He meets a preacher in his hotel elevator, but snubs his friendly approach. He finds the facility that did the scan, but learns from Priya that the girl is an orphan and will be hard to find. To aid his search, he places an ad on a billboard with a picture of Sofi’s eyes and the offer of a reward to the person if they call. He later finds a little girl staring at the billboard, and her irises match Sofi’s. He takes the girl,
Salomina, back to his hotel and contacts Karen over Skype. With her help, he conducts a simple test on Salomina, hoping that she will select the images associated with Sofi. The results are inconclusive, falling within the “random” range, and he admits to Karen that he feels foolish. But when he prepares to leave the hotel with Salomina, she panics and cries at the sight of the elevator, and Gray seems to accept the idea that she may be connected to Sofi in ways that cannot be proven through science.
I Origins
Directed by: Mike Cahill
Starring: Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, Archie Panjabi, William Mapother, Cara Seymour
Screenplay by: Mike Cahill
Production Design by: Tania Bijlani
Cinematography by: Markus Förderer
Film Editing by: Mike Cahill
Costume Design by: Megan Gray
Set Decoration by: Grace Yun
Music by: Will Bates, Phil Mossman
MPAA Rating: R for some sexuality/nudity, and language.
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Date: July 18th, 2014
Visits: 52
