A thoroughly depressing experience, Barbara Albert's "Free Radicals" traces the impact of a freak accident on the lives of a community of Austrians.
Steeped in pop science and chaos theory (including on-screen lectures about fractals), Alberts attempts to make dramatize the theories-- a butterfly literally beats its wings in a South American jungle, and tragedy ensues. But her narrative falters when the main character, who survives a terrible airplane crash in the opening scene, is dispatched twenty minutes later in a gruesome car accident. Minor characters take her place, further suffering and tragedy follow, but the audience is left behind.
"Free Radicals" was an Offical Selection at the 2003 New York Film Festival. Distributed by Kino International, the film opens at Anthology Film Archive in New York on July 23rd.
