by Tabatha Golat –
A variety of great entertainment has been released over the past year – from documentaries to big budget fantasy shows and true crime – so it almost seems silly to choose a recommendation from 2016. That being said, this month’s series of choice, The OA, is worth the snub. Although labeled as a mystery-drama, the series from creator and star Brit Marling is genre defying and difficult to pin down given its vast array of fantasy, supernatural and science-fiction elements.
The two-season Netflix show is broken into Part I and Part II. Part I introduces Prairie Johnson (Brit Marling), a woman who returns after a mysterious seven-year disappearance. More mysterious than her reappearance is the fact that the previously blind Prairie has somehow regained her vision and now refers to herself as The OA (“The Original Angel”). The OA refuses to disclose to authorities where she’s been, or how her vision was restored, instead focusing on sharing her life story with a group of five people (four teenagers and a local high school teacher) whom she hopes will assist her in finding the other missing people she was with. Part II begins with The OA waking up in a parallel universe where she’s known as Nina, a woman tasked with assisting a detective in finding a missing teenage girl who is connected to a puzzle app.
The pacing and unique storyline of Part I is elevated in Part II, leaving a cliffhanger ending that, unfortunately, is never resolved. In a surprising move, Netflix axed the series after two seasons despite favourable criticism and public outcry. Even with an ending that begs to be resolved, the show is worth the watch. The exploration of other realms and the interconnectedness of the universe is eccentric, interesting and compelling.
My favourite part of the series is the directing by co-creator Zal Batmanglij. Batmanglij has a talent for composition and designs beautiful shots in every scene. I find the best directors have a distinctly recognizable look and feel to their work, a skill Batmanglij has shown in his ability to beautifully showcase this complex story. Check out my list below for recommendations from other directors known for their unique signature styles.
1) The Grand Budapest Hotel, directed by Wes Anderson, Disney Plus
2) Lost In Translation, directed by Sofia Coppola, Crave
3) The Village, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Prime
4) Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, Netflix
