Content Advisory: Death/harm to Child, Suicide
A man on the brink of an ending marriage finds out one day that he has disappeared from the real world in The Invisibles. Charlie (Tim Blake Nelson) is a man who is not only dealing with being turned down for a coveted promotion, but he is struggling with the aftermath of a personal tragedy that has caused strain on his marriage to his wife Hannah (Gretchen Mol). However, Charlie wakes up one morning to discover that he has disappeared from Hannah and others in the world around him.
Nick (Nathan Alexis), another man who has vanished from the world, finds Charlie on the street. Nick takes Charlie to an old bowling alley where the other “invisibles” gather, under the guidance of the bartender Carl (Bruce Greenwood). Carl tries to convince Charlie that this new world is a utopia, where he can escape the pain of the real world. However, Charlie still tries to find a way to return to his former life.
The Invisibles Synopsis
The Invisibles is a science fiction drama co-written and directed by Andrew Currie (Fido). The film stars Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) as Charlie, a man living in a loop since an unknown traumatic event from three years prior. His wife Hannah, played by Gretchen Mol (Boardwalk Empire, Manchester by the Sea), is reaching the end of her rope, especially as Charlie keeps missing their therapy sessions.
After a tense evening, where Hannah tries to get him to reconcile his traumatic memories, Charlie wakes up to find that he is invisible to the rest of the world. The others he finds in this new dimension, visualized by a warmer orange colour scheme, get to live the lives they always dreamed of, including the defacto leader Carl, played by Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek Into Darkness), who has created a meeting place in an old bowling alley and goes surfing in the winter. Even Charlie is surprised when he runs into his long-lost first girlfriend Kara (Rachel Wilson). However, as tempting as this new life is, Charlie still has a desire to return to his life with Hannah.
My Thoughts on The Invisibles
The Invisibles uses its science fiction premise to visualize the desires that many have to just escape the pain they face in the world. While the trauma that Charlie is trying to escape from is relatively easy to guess, I have chosen not to discuss that aspect of the narrative. However, I do have to note that how the plot of The Invisibles develops ends up being surprisingly reminiscent of Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris.
As a Canadian production filmed in Hamilton, The Invisibles is bolstered by its American leads of Tim Blake Nelson and Gretchen Mol. The film is a rare leading role for Nelson, best known as a character actor in films such as Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, Minority Report, and HBO’s Watchmen. Nelson makes a good everyman character, who is easy to root for. The same can be said for Gretchen Mol and sympathizing with her character Hannah’s struggles. However, I could have done without Juno Rinaldi as Hannah’s best friend Franny, who often seems to be trying to nudge Hannah into a midlife crisis.
One supporting role in The Invisibles who does leave an impression is Nathan Alexis (Rhymes for Young Ghouls) as Nick, the first friend that Charlie makes in this new dimension. Like many of the invisibles, Nick is escaping from a traumatic life. However, a subplot of the film involves Nick’s infatuation with a barista, which eventually causes him to rethink his current status.
Altogether, while not a perfect film, The Invisibles works as an allegory for overcoming personal trauma. It helps the film that Tim Blake Nelson makes for a very charming lead. Also, the fact that film features a cute dog that likes lying on the couch and watching videos of penguins.