The Pink Cloud – An Excellent Pandemic Drama

Iuli Gerbase’s The Pink Cloud follows the lives of Giovana (de Lélis) and Yugo (Mendonça), two adults trapped in a house for years with no way out as the result of a global environmental threat. How they navigate their lives and relationships forms the crux of the film. The film is an excellent commentary on the contemporary way of life we are all leading in the pandemic. It places one’s mental health and thoughts at the center of all that is transpiring.

As a film, The Pink Cloud holds up a mirror to much of the world’s present circumstances. The premise of a deadly gaseous cloud that allows no one to remain in the open for any longer than ten seconds is a clear metaphor for the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, written in 2017 and shot in 2019, the inspiration was clearly not the virus (hence, the witty tagline “Any resemblance to actual facts is purely coincidental.”). By now, we have seen many such catastrophic premises depicted in other films. It is just that the rules of this world are stricter. People just cannot go outside. Period. Everyone is cooped up wherever they were at that fateful hour. The film quickly sets up all practical utilities our characters need to survive inside and ignores other functional aspects. This works fine as a drama about the human condition.

The fictional metaphor stops with the environmental threat. Everything that follows reflects the actual human condition that many will find very plausible or have already experienced. As Giovana and Yugo’s one-night stand evolves into a lifelong affiliation, Gerbase shows audiences the many shades of living together under the same roof for an unforeseeable amount of time. Giovana and Yugo have starkly different worldviews, especially regarding the cloud. The differences in their personalities are further aggravated by their contrasting responses to social relationships with other people. Add a newborn baby amid the crisis, and it gets more complex. The film presents a dichotomous outlook. It is easier for some to come to terms with the circumstances but emotionally exhausting for others to grapple with the changes.

It would not have been possible to bring across the gravitas of the situation and the emotional experience without the top-notch performances of de Lélis and Mendonça as Giovanna and Yugo. Their portrayal brings a sense of realism to the story. Also, credit goes to Gerbase’s organic writing that does not lose its way or meander in the slightest. The world-building is economical and complements the main narrative very well. The often-eerie score adds to the thrill and keeps us anxious about how our characters will react next. While the film skips through certain essential phases of life, it is understandable; else, we would have a limited series at hand. But, The Pink Cloud does not talk enough about remedying the situation and remains introspective in nature.

Not to digress, but here’s an interesting side note. Nowadays, there is a lot of talk about Metaverse and its capabilities, obviously fuelled by the pandemic and social media. But, Metaverse needs to settle first how it will deal with human psychology and expectations. The technology of building it will not be an issue, but a more significant concern is how it can enhance or even fit in our lives. The Pink Cloud is a perfect guide for understanding these aspects and is a must-watch for those planning to enter the Metaverse space in any way.

At the end of the day, The Pink Cloud is a must-watch for everyone as we learn to grapple with the pandemic’s uncertainty and even modern lifestyles apart from the pandemic. It is an introspective drama that nudges audiences to think about our internal and external responses to the present circumstances and how we feel about what’s going on.

still courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment

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