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With her big inward eyes and perpetual glower, Northam effectively conveys Elsas restless, blinkered life.
This is a woman obsessed with something she can never see, hear, or feel.
(Clapin literally cuts to a stopwatch at points.)
But the suspense is half-hearted, and the pictures vaporous approach to incident remains.
By contrast, animation foregrounds the pictorial, which is its own aesthetic doctrine.
To put it another way: Animation can get away with a lot more because of its inherent otherworldliness.
Clapin does incorporate some lovely animated sequences, often involving Elsas dreams about reuniting with Franck.
The contrast is powerful, drawing attention to the chimerical nature of her quest.
But this also underscores the directors challenge with the rest of the film.
(Besides working for her mom, she lives at her parents home in Francks old room.)
Thus, her desire to bring her brother back is not just delusional but emotionally perilous.
These arent all bad things.
Clapin has made a film that leaves us puzzled but also curious.
Where he stumbles is in evoking the emotional charge hes clearly aiming for.Meanwhile on Earthis beautiful, but alienating.
