From writer/director Andrew Currie (Fido), The Invisibles is an ethereal parable about disassociating from trauma and grief.

Currie reunites with Tim Blake Nelson (who is also credited as an executive producer), and casts the character actor as dazed husband Charlie. Charlie is content despite being an emotional recluse, which frustrates his wife Hannah (Gretchen Mol of The Notorious Bettie Page) and causes Charlie to fade into the background. The couple needs to address a personal issue, but Charlie can’t bring himself to have the conversation. Suddenly, after he notices his body is unusually transparent and he’s being ignored by people around him, Charlie finds himself living in an alternate realm; welcomed by a select community who have also been marooned to a partial existence. However, the people who live in this reality are beaming with happiness as they go about their new lives without a morsel of regret. This change is scary and jarring to Charlie, yet appreciated; though he suspects something more beguiling when loved ones from his past visit him and he becomes more isolated from the life he was once so familiar with.

Currie has fun playing with the visual aesthetics of dual realities, as well as developing the logic for this story (which he co-wrote with Colin Aussant). The Invisibles isn’t challenging, but that isn’t a criticism. Instead, it’s a suggestion towards how easy it is for an audience to be swept up in the magic realism of Currie’s film. Any questions regarding this alternate realm are frequently patched up by seasoned characters assuring Charlie (and the audience) to ignore such worries. However, too much of this nonchalant attitude pulls the viewer’s focus towards fundamental issues with plot points (such as reemerging people from the past who may or may not be real), and creates distractions. The Invisibles eventually explains itself but, considering how long the movie is, this measured storytelling may feel too drawn out for audiences eager to find their satisfaction.

Nevertheless, and resisting to contradict myself, the life-affirming nature of The Invisibles is so powerful and delightful that we release our nitpicks and allow the film to wash over us.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie