Alchemy of the Spirit
It’s always interesting to see how filmmakers approach the concept of life and death. “Alchemy of the Spirit” is a sincere and haunting exploration of what happens to a person whom wakes up next to a loved one, only to realize that they are not alive anymore. In his screenplay, writer-director Steve Balderson is not aiming to answer heavy questions about grief, but to weave a dark narrative about what it inspires in someone who is able to channel those feelings into creative expression. This might be one of the first film that gives someone insight into that process, but even then, it’s an internal process- there’s only so much that can be said about the way a mind in grief responds to those emotions.
Oliver (Xander Berkeley) wakes up like many of us wake up in the morning- which is to say, slowly, and without thinking anything is wrong. When he looks over to his wife, Evelyn (Sarah Clarke), he sees that she is not waking up. She died in her sleep, which is the most peaceful way one can go, but even with that knowledge, it’s sometimes difficult for us to accept that we’ve lost a loved one, and were not there for their final moment. I’ve lost many people in my life- most recently, my mother-in-law- and I think going quietly, away from those who loved them, is their way of lessening the pain for us; I understand the desire, and emotional need, for us to “be there with them,” but that can leave scars, and memories not easily healed in time. Someone like Oliver is able to channel such a loss in a way that many aren’t, which can be a blessing or a curse. When his agent (Mink Stole) comes with the prospect of a showing of his work, he begins to create, with his wife helping him along the way.
The film’s use of hazy photographic effects, and blue filters, to illustrate the fantastic elements of this story are a bit difficult to get behind- I get that Balderson is aiming for a more unreal look for the film on a low budget, but it distracted me- at times- from the emotional connection the film builds in us with Oliver. Berkeley is one of those character actors for whom everyone probably has one or two (or more) points of reference for; seeing him play Oliver here is a great opportunity for us to witness him in a role that seems tailored made for a character actor to shine in, and show us some different sides of the actor. Berkeley is terrific as a man whose grief leads him to creating something expressive, but also kind of horrifying, given how he goes about it.
Evelyn is an interesting role- while she is very much a projection of Oliver’s muse, we also feel like we’re seeing the person she probably was. (We never see her alive.) The film’s look at creativity, obsession, and moving on is fascinating, even if the visual ways that is shown are less interesting to me in how his characters explore it through their dialogue. “Alchemy of the Spirit” feels like the work of Tarkovsky in its meditative way of exploring humanity, even if it sometimes goes in directions that hint at something more supernatural. It’s worth watching to see how you look at its view of life, death and art for yourself.
ALCHEMY OF THE SPIRIT (2022) official trailer [yang] from Steve Balderson on Vimeo.
