Review: Kodachrome movie

Having grown up with film and experienced the heady joys of getting a roll developed, the premise of Kodachrome is intriguing. What if you were in possession of four old rolls of film on the very last day that the Kodak lab was processing before shutting up shop for ever?

Thanks to Kodachrome

Kodachrome tells the story of Matt (Jason Sudeikis) who’s recently been divorced and is about to lose his job as a music executive. He is offered one last chance, track down and sign a specific up and coming band within two weeks or leave. Just as he’s about to set out on his quest he is visited by Zooey (Elizabeth Olsen), who turns out to be his father’s nurse. But Matt hasn’t spoken to his celebrated photographer father Ben (Ed Harris) for years.

Zooey informs Matt that his father is dying of terminal cancer and his dying wish is for his son to join him on one last trip.

Thanks to Kodachrome

The trip will see the two men confined to a car as they drive from New York to Kansas to develop two old rolls of Kodachrome film. The urgency is two fold.

First there’s Ben’s ill health, but more importantly for Ben, Kodak will cease processing film in seven days. Several groups of photographers are making their way to the only remaining lab in America, in Kansas.

Initially against the idea Matt reneges when Ben says he can use his contacts to get his son a meeting with the band he must sign. As Matt, Ben and Zooey set out it becomes clear that a dying man can say whatever he wants, knowing there will be no repercussions.

Kodachrome is a moving drama that explores the love of friends, family and the often challenging father son relationship.

As the lights came up and the audience reached for their tissues I pondered:

1. Ed Harris continues to be a favourite, putting in yet another realistic, utterly beautiful, moving performance;
2. The movie presents some wonderful reminders of analogue life;
3. Stay for the credits for some stunning, heart warming images;
4. The movie makes you ponder what will happen with all our electronic data, will there be a record of how we lived?

For more information go to Luna Leederville and Luna on SX. Screening from June 7th.

For the trailer click here.