Black Box
amazonIn his directorial debut Black Box, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Jr. immediately proves himself as both a director and screenwriter crafting an incredibly original and powerful film. Nolan (Mamoudou Athie) is a young man who is still adjusting after a major car accident that took both his wife and memory. Left as a single dad to his daughter, Nolan agrees to undergo an experimental treatment putting Nolan in his old memories to hopefully let them return, which would make life much easier for Nolan and his daughter. What Nolan finds in his memories, however, are not just his wife and previous life, but something else that seems dark and dangerous.
From concept alone, Black Box is an absolute success. Clearly inspired by the work of Christopher Nolan, who possibly even is given a nod through the name of the main character, Black Box feels completely unique yet incredibly similar to that of 2010's Inception. The film is high concept with layers of the unconscious becoming a battleground for Nolan and whatever is haunting him from the depths of his brain, but the film never loses itself in its more complex ideas. Where the science and logic is almost under explained to a fault, the choice to focus more on the emotions present within the film was clearly the right choice. It is this emotional backbone that is going to hook audiences and make them connect to the character of Nolan.
The struggle to be there for his daughter despite not even being able to drive her down the road to school without needing help with directions, not to mention not knowing anyone he has to interact with, is tragic. It immediately puts the audience behind the character of Nolan and turns him into an effective protagonist. The film doesn't go the typical route with this character, however. Through various twists and turns, the film pushes not just Nolan but the audience in ways that feel rewarding and difficult in the best of ways. So many films within the Sci Fi genre will play it safe, yet Black Box is not afraid to take risks, which only further speaks to the power of Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Jr. as a filmmaker. The film also serves as a wonderful showcase for Mamoudou Athie. Though the actor is typically pushed to the side in a supporting role, he proves within Black Box that he is capable of much more mature and complex roles than what he has been given so far.
The issues within Black Box are far from devastating to the feature overall. Sure, some of the filmmaking is uneven and there are clear inconsistencies with tone and pacing, but largely, Black Box stands out as an impressive and original outing that easily could have blown up if it was put on a larger stage – such as the Fantasia International Film Festival, which is known for being a launching pad for genre pieces such as this. Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Jr. immediately becomes a name to watch; with the film being available on Amazon, there are little reasons not to give it a go.
