Lapsis Review: A Smart and Satirical Setting Touching On Modern Issues

Release date: February 12, 2021
Running time: 108 minutes
Starring: Dean Imperial, Madeline Wise, Dora Madison, Frank Wood, Arliss Howard, Ivory Aquino, James McDaniel, Babe Howard
Written and Directed by: Noah Hutton

New York, an alternate present: the quantum computing revolution has begun and investors are lining their pockets in the quantum trading market. Building the network, though, requires miles of infrastructure to be laid between huge magnetic cubes by "cablers" - unprotected gig workers who compete against robots to pull wires over rough terrain.  Queens delivery man Ray Tincelli (Dean Imperial) is skeptical of new technology, and the buy-in to start cabling is steep, but he struggles to support himself and his ailing younger brother, who suffers from a mysterious illness. So when Ray scores a shady permit, he believes their fortunes may have finally changed. What he doesn't expect is to be pulled into a conspiracy involving hostile cablers, corporate greed, and the mysterious "Lapsis" who may have previously owned his permit. 

Lapsis provides an interesting, satirical near future version of the world.  The film's setting is really well done and provides a perfect place to explore some very modern concepts.  But first, the world of Lapsis is decidedly low tech as most of the movie takes place on the cabling routes. And this is a smart way for the film to depict a near future, high tech time without having to create an entire futuristic world.  It allows there to be hints of technology, but not force you to be overwhelmed by it.  

And the film has a good balance of light hearted tone with serious topics.  The characters are all perfectly acted, including the main character of Ray (Imperial).  He is the right combination of gruff and realistic, trying to survive and having a generally positive view of the world.  And his companion during his cabling journey Anna (Wise) is a good foil to him.  She is more driven by principle whereas Ray is more driven by his personal life situation, and their conversations and interactions are light hearted but also delve into some deeper labor and modern topics.  But the key to this film is that there is this fake, positive tone to all the characters that belies the generally bleak situation that they are in.  It all adds to the overall satire in the film, and helps to make the heavier subjects not feel so heavy or preachy.  

And Lapsis definitely has an agenda and touches on some very relevant, modern topics.  From automation, to wealth inequality, and people being forced to take less skilled jobs due to their circumstances, the situations in Lapsis are cleverly tied to the story and to our current world.  And that is where this film is really special.  It succeeds in setting up some important, deep topics with a generally light overall tone. 

Lapsis has a strong, satirical style, a smart setting, and great characters to tell a near future story dealing with some very modern, timely societal issues. 

Watch it.

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Lapsis is playing in virtual cinemas across the country.  For more information and for showtimes click here.