Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: TIDES [Berlinale 2021 - Virtual]
The essence of science fiction is a reflective basis of society. But certain science fiction has a reflective nature of apocalypse. "Tides" [Berlin Special] has a different feelings of what it wants to be. It has some great establishing shots but no inherent action sequences or undeniable connection that draw the viewer in. It is a beautiful to look at, but beyond creating a world, it seemingly falls by the wayside of any greater enhancement of the human condition. It is a story of moral corruption with power that has been seen before. Nora Arnezeder plays Blake and she single-handedly carries this film. At the inset, it has promise especially with the undeniably location but it subsists into a mix of “Waterworld” and “Raised By Wolves”" but without the former's bombast and the latter's existential angst. The actions here seem pre-determined and not wholly effective. The tech also is seen at the beginning only. Even an establishing shot of the planet would give a sense of place but "Tides" seems t exist, in a way, in a void. Roland Emmerich is credited as a producer and one can see his stamp but the film never truly reaches exit velocity.
Meanings and motivations are understood but also at times unclear but the stakes never seen inherently viable. The bigger picture revolves around this planet (which seems to only be shallow oceans that are tidal) and how people survive. But it is also about sterile earthlings traveling to a new world with a hope of reproduction. Again, these metaphors are shown on the periphery and then forgotten seemingly. The resources and the ways of survival beyond the mention of a possible hydro generator creates significant plot holes all the way through. In general, the story comes off as the beginning of a sci-fi series that one hopes expands to a more dynamic feeling. "Tides" doesn't do that though. At times, it looks like a dystopian epic and, at others, like it is on a soundstage with a lot of fog. C-
By Tim Wassberg
