Would you change your past if you could? I’m trying to think about this fascinating question, the excellent one Butterfly effect, one of the great science fiction films of the 2000s, takes us through an intelligent, dynamic script to a strange conflict story of a young man who, through an unusual twist of fate, manages to travel back in time and relive symbolic situations his life. Screenplay and direction by the duo Eric Bress It is J. Mackye GruberThe project touches on the uncontrollable variables of a chaos theory perspective and covers the changes in events and unpredictable developments. A complete dish for those who like narratives based on science fiction and especially time travel.
In the plot we meet Evan (Ashton Kutcher), a young man approaching adulthood who exhibits memory impairment throughout his life, always in moments of great stress. One day, with the help of diaries he wrote, he manages to go back in time and experience moments he never thought he would ever find again. In trying to fix certain traumatic situations in the past, he ends up creating new variables that are equally or more complicated, many of which affect the life of his true love, Kayleigh (Amy Smart).
In an infinite universe of variables, which line do you think is correct? This is an important question that runs parallel to the hallucinatory situations experienced by the protagonist. The narrative turns on the turbo of nonlinearity, which must make the viewer pay attention, since practically one sequence influences the other. This construction is brilliantly achieved and is based on the uncontrollable variables of a look made up of timelines, physics and all related topics. It seems as if we are putting together a puzzle in which new pieces are added and the ones already put together are dismantled.
The equally uncontrollable universe of abstract emotional contours is also a driving force behind the narrative. There is room for the importance of friendship, dreams and love, the latter perhaps being the fixed point and trigger for change as the protagonist moves away from “I want” and begins to take action on “what is best for him”. Something that is still a thoughtful examination of an existential crisis.
Generations pass and Butterfly effect continues to be the subject of discussions and recommendations. It is a film that, after watching it, makes the viewer think about many things and what could perhaps change if there was a possibility. For those interested, the film is available in the Prime Video and HBO Max catalog.