Leave the real world behind|Nov. 22, 2015|United Kingdom | Belgium|119 Min.|R
Genre: Drama
Description: “High-Rise” is a 2015 British dystopian film directed by Ben Wheatley, based on the 1975 novel of the same name by J.G. Ballard. The movie features a star-studded cast including Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, and Elisabeth Moss. Produced by Jeremy Thomas under his production company Recorded Picture Company, the film is set in a luxurious 1970s high-rise building designed by renowned architect Anthony Royal. The tower, located on the outskirts of London, offers modern amenities like a pool, gym, spa, supermarket, and primary school, allowing residents to become increasingly detached from the outside world. Wealthier inhabitants occupy the upper floors, while those with fewer resources live on the lower levels.
The story follows Dr. Robert Laing, who moves into the 25th floor after the death of his sister. He begins a relationship with Charlotte Melville, a single mother, and takes on a fatherly role for her son, Toby. Laing also befriends Richard Wilder, a documentary filmmaker, and his pregnant wife Helen, who reside in a lower-level apartment with their children. The film explores the breakdown of the building’s infrastructure and the growing tensions among its residents, which eventually lead to chaos.
The movie premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and the San Sebastián International Film Festival. It was released in the UK in March 2016 by StudioCanal. Although it received modest critical acclaim, it struggled to recoup its production costs at the box office. In 2017, it was nominated for the Empire Award for Best British Film.
Cast director: Ben Wheatley
Cast actor: Tom Hiddleston, Elisabeth Moss, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Luke Evans, Reece Shearsmith, Daniel Renton Skinner, James Purefoy, Peter Ferdinando, Stacy Martin
Original name: High-Rise