Review: ‘Circulation’

Circulation (2008) was written and directed by Ryan Harper. The film stars Yvonne Delarosa and Sherman Koltz as two wandering souls in an alternate purgatory-like dimension where people retain human form but are driven by the instincts of the animals they are destined to be reincarnated as in their next lives. In this strange existence Ana (Delarosa) has visions of becoming a caterpillar, while Gene (Koltz) roams the Mexican desert seeking prey to store for food as a spider would hunt and store its food. The two characters meet by chance when Gene picks her up on the side of the road. They develop an odd relationship without reliable communication, as Ana does not speak English and Gene does not speak Spanish. Gene is compelled to protect the fragile Ana as she flees from the danger of her ex-husband, who appears to be driven by the instincts of some sort of predatory beast.

Despite being shot on a low-budget, as is the case with most indie films, Circulation relies heavily on its unique story to draw the audience into its world. Harper shows that even with a limited budget, he can still stretch that dollar by utilizing creativity, ingenuity and a clear understanding of what it takes to make an interesting movie. More often than not, the most imaginative cinematic concepts are presented in small, under-appreciated independent films and Circulation is further proof of that trend. View the trailer below or visit the official website.

[rating: 3/5]