It’s no secret that certain filmmakers tend to follow similar patterns with their films. For instance, Martin Scorsese is obviously known for his extensive list of crime epics just like Tim Burton is known for his bizarre and obscure form of horror. But sometimes these patterns are embedded within the story itself and aren’t immediately apparent. Take the Wachowskis for example. They are primarily known for their work in science fiction, but there’s a theme of connectivity that runs through a lot of their work. Nowhere can this be seen more obviously than in Cloud Atlas.
The novel from which Cloud Atlas was based was thought to be very difficult to adapt into a film. It consists of six different narratives spread out across hundreds of years. But the Wachowskis saw great potential in it. The narratives are woven together through works such as journals and recordings. But the Wachowskis take this a step further by having multiple actors play multiple parts in all of the different timelines. This resonates a theme of past lives and connectivity across time for all of these characters.
The message of connectivity is right at the surface in Cloud Atlas, but it can also be found in almost all of the Wachowskis’ other work. For instance, The Matrix had a deep theme of connectivity and destiny as all of its characters worked together towards ending the war with the machines. In their Netflix series Sense8, connectivity is literally the bond that psychically binds people across the globe. They even produced the film V for Vendetta, which had a lengthy sequence about how all of the characters are tied together towards a fated outcome of revolution. This just goes to show that filmmakers can have a singular theme that’s not just on the surface of their work but also deep below.
Cloud Atlas is now streaming on Pluto TV.
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