Taglines: We are meant for something bigger.
In the near future, Paul and Audrey Safranek are a married couple in Omaha with financial issues. At a college reunion, they encounter Dave and Carol Johnson who have “downsized,” an irreversible process invented 15 years earlier that involves shrinking humans to a height of five inches. While the inventors advocate that downsizing is environmentally friendly through the reduction of waste, Dave argues that its benefits extend far beyond that and improve one’s life through the increase in value of their money.
Exploring the possibilities of downsizing, Paul and Audrey agree to undergo the process and move to Leisureland, one of the most popular communities for small individuals. After undergoing downsizing, Paul receives a call from Audrey, saying that she was unable to go through the procedure and, opting out at the last minute, will be leaving him.
One year later, Paul finalizes the divorce with Audrey, and settles in to his new apartment. Although Paul had anticipated a life of relative ease, he works as a telemarketer for Lands’ End. While attending a birthday party, Paul has a discussion with Dave and says that he regrets his decision to downsize. Soon after, Paul breaks up with his girlfriend and attends a party hosted by his neighbor Dušan.
The next morning, Paul notices that one of Dušan’s housecleaners is Ngoc Lan Tran, a Vietnamese political activist who was jailed and downsized against her will. Lan Tran was the sole survivor of a human smuggling attempt to the United States in a television box and had her leg amputated upon arrival. Attempting to assist Lan Tran with her prosthetic leg, Paul returns to her house in the slums outside of the walls of Leisureland. After assisting Lan Tran’s dying friend, Paul attempts to repair Lan Tran’s prosthetic leg only to break it and make her unable to work.
In return, Paul works for Lan Tran’s cleaning service where he also assists in gathering food from around the city that Lan Tran distributes throughout the slums. Dušan attempts to release Paul from his obligation by taking him to Norway, the site of the first small community with his friend Joris Konrad, but Lan Tran argues to come along. Lan Tran had received international attention after her arrival in the United States, including personal correspondence from the inventor of downsizing, Dr. Jørgen Asbjørnsen, who had previously invited her to Norway.
Downsizing is a 2017 American science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne, written by Payne and Jim Taylor and starring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, and Kristen Wiig. It tells the story of a couple who decide to undertake a newly-invented procedure to shrink their bodies so they can start a new life in an experimental community. When the wife refuses the procedure at the last minute, the husband has to reassess his life and choices after befriending an impoverished activist. Principal photography on the film began in Ontario, Canada, on April 1, 2016.
Downsizing premiered at the 74th Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2017, and was theatrically released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on December 22, 2017, and has grossed $32 million against its $68 million budget. The film received praise for its cast and premise, but criticism for its execution and failure to deliver on ideas given the subject matter. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2017,[4] while Chau earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
Downsizing (2017)
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Rolf Lassgård, Ingjerd Egeberg, Søren Pilmark, Maribeth Monroe, Kristen Thomson, Alison J. Palmer, James Van Der Beek
Production Design by: Stefania Cella
Screenplay by: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Cinematography by: Phedon Papamichael
Film Editing by: Kevin Tent
Costume Design by: Wendy Chuck
Set Decoration by: Patricia Larman, Karen Manthey, Odetta Stoddard
Art Direction by: Jørgen Stangebye Larsen, Karl J. Martin, Doug J. Meerdink, Kimberley Zaharko
Music by: Rolfe Kent
MPAA Rating: R for language including sexual references, some graphic nudity and drug use.
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