Cate Blanchett’s in Command and Cunning in Rumours

A yearly gathering of the world’s wealthiest democracies is called the g7 Summit. This group of seven intergovernmental political and economic forum consist of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States; additionally, the European Union.  Each country discusses they challenges and how they all could possibly assist one another on a global scale. What happens when during the gathering to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis, they become spectacles of incompetence.  Quickly having to contend with surreal obstacles, as night falls in the misty woods, the realization slowly sets in that they are suddenly alone.

Directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, Rumours takes this premise placing it in the most absurd of circumstances that involve AI, a giant brain, history of bogs and a fight for survival in the unpredictability of navigating woods at night.

What isn’t absurd are the performances from this ensemble cast.  Each actor excels collectively and individually. Cate Blanchett never disappoints as the commanding and cunning Hilda, serving as a cinematic puppet master, especially Maxime (Roy Dupuis), who continuously is distracted by all the women in his life.

As we getting deeper in an election year, Rumours (ironically named after the infamous Fleetwood Mac album), makes a strong statement on how corrupt and idiotic some of these world leaders can become under the most unusual of circumstances.

The film, in a most unique method, tackles the subject of AI, which is threatening to change and challenge technology on a global level, while giving the summit annual themes. This year’s theme is regret where every leader articulates their own regrets, personal disappointments, etc. As for the significance of bog people within the confines of this story, we know their bodies are remarkably preserved 2000 years later, right down to their fingerprints, eyelashes, and the contents of their stomachs.  It’s a possibility these unpopular leaders were given a fine send-off meal, then their throats were slit, penises severe, wrapped tightly around their necks and their bodies ritually offered up into a bog where no one suspected they would be so well mummified and reserved except their mysteriously dissolved bones. These executed leaders are now the floppiest mummies on earth. I know it’s a lot to show up in a semi-political sci-fi thriller, but it makes a very valid point about world leaders, their egos and the consequences of their narcissistic behavior for the citizens they serve.

Rumours attacks a plethora of subjects from a dark and twisted point of view revealing power struggles and affairs, while giving vibes of Clue with a little War of the Worlds apocalyptic sci-fi horror thriller is fascinating.  Crazy, wild and humorous in the best way possible this flick is worth a watch if for nothing else to make you think twice about our current state of affairs and how we will continue to navigate through it to our advantage or detriment as a global society.