The Opening film at SXSW film festival after a three year hiatus was the most perfect film to open the festivities after the long pandemic that we all went through. As the creators The Daniels said in their opening remarks, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE shouldn’t exist but somehow it got made. There were two things I kept thinking while watching this film, like if Terry Gilliam made an action martial arts film and along with a weird combination of Austin’s favourite Nacho Vigolando and Lar Kar-Leung.
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE is about Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) who is the owner of a laundromat. She is going through the worst moment in her life. Her business is being audited by the IRS, her marriage is on the rocks, and she has a strained relationship with her daughter. Now things are getting worse when her husband is possessed by another version of her himself from a parallel universe. A common problem everyone has, am I right?
There are many reasons to watch this movie but one of the key moments is getting the unexpected but amazing fight between Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis. Newcomer Stephanie Hsu plays an amazing villain with the ability to connect to every universe all at once. Key-Hu Quan (remember Short Round from INDIANA JONES & THE TEMPLE OF DOOM or Data from THE GOONIES?) returns to acting after a twenty year hiatus with an amazing performance as a different version of Evelyn Husband. Another thing you need to know is the always reliable James Hong (BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA) is always reliable and plays the patriarch of Evelyn’s family.
The directing duo of the Daniels (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheiner) after their feature film SWISS ARMY MAN are showing they’re among the most imaginative filmmakers out there today. There are scenes and ideas that I cannot even describe and it felt like I took the best drug ever. I could never imagine the things this duo achieves and I want to see the things this duo could do with a bigger budget.
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE is a film that deals with generational trauma and living with regret of the decision we made in our life. We may not have the perfect family; but you know they are always there with you. This movie had me by my heart when it ended. Not only a great way to start this year’s SxSW, but this is one of the best films so far this year.
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE will open in early April through Elevation Pictures in Canada and A24 in the United States.
This film and many others like it will be showing at South By Southwest taking place March 11-20. For more information point your browser to www.sxsw.com!