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Information

Year
2011
Runtime
87 min.
Director
Zal Batmanglij
Genres
Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Mystery
Rating *
6.6
Votes *
18,458
Checks
1,187
Favs
80
Dislikes
15
Favs/checks
6.7% (1:15)
Favs/dislikes
5:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. Siskoid's avatar

    Siskoid

    Sound of My Voice is the OTHER film Brit Marling co-wrote and starred in in 2011 (along with Another Earth, which is the movie that inspired me to run this marathon), and it's even more mysterious. The plot is simple enough, and seems inspired by Marling and director Zal Batmanglij's joining an anarchist group when they were younger. A journalist and his girlfriend infiltrate a cult led by a woman (Marling) who claims to be from the near future, here to prepare them for the hardships ahead. It's a fascinating look at a cult recruiting techniques with a cool SF twist. You spend the whole movie wondering if she's for real or a fraud (as the protagonists do), and only after it's all over do you realize there was something else going on. Because what are those creepy scenes with the little girl Marling wants to meet. What about all the FBI agent stuff? The movie doesn't explain, only presents. It's up to you, usually on second viewing, to put the pieces together. There's a Terminator-type plot lurking behind the scenes. And yet, despite the abrupt ending, it works without you noticing any of that. 8 years 9 months ago
  2. uggaexul's avatar

    uggaexul

    The user [kameeleoned_out] has posted a great theory on IMdb, for those who are still confused, i think this kind of makes sense:

    quote:
    I'll try to be as brief as possible. But it's worth the read.

    The "DoJ agent" Carol was surprised to see the American flag on the tail of the plane. The only reason for this would be that she hasn't seen it in a while. This, along with the handshake in the end are the two key scenes that confirm the time travel theory.

    To support this further, Carol looks out at the city from her hotel window. The intact buildings represent a view that's unfamiliar to her, an image that makes even a professional agent of her stature loose herself in thought for a second.

    In this story, whoever controls the past wins the battle of the future. Therefore, the war is now waged in the past, where the stakes are higher but a lot more subtle. Joanne told Lorna in the forest that Maggie had said that humans are made for living in the woods. This suggests that Maggie's side is the one who's attacking from the outside (having retreated to the woods), so it suggests that they are considered the terrorists (terrorists are usually the ones fighting their way in, battling the establishment).

    The "establishment" already has a firmer hold of the past. This is suggested by the fact that the "DoJ agent" Carol comes back in time more prepared, healthier and with memory intact (she's ready to receive her assignment, which she does, in a professional manner). On the other hand, Klaus has to look for Maggie in the streets, recognizing her only by tattoos, and then has to build her back up in the course of a number of weeks. This suggests that their side has lower technology, and that Maggie might even be their only shot (there's a lot riding on her).

    Now, onto the war itself. For a reason that is unknown to me now, the stake is the little girl, Abigail. Another poster said that the Abigail/father scene with the drugs + laptop is proof of her brainwashing. To support this, she builds the dark cityscapes out of LEGO. We can assume that she is constantly shown horrible things on the laptop because she writes Terrorist on her colleague's backpack. In essence, this shows that she is being taught to hate the future "terrorists" that she possibly engenders (this might actually be the reason she is important). They are trying to cut the war at its source.

    Maggie appears to have come back for one reason alone: to save Abigail from this situation, through Peter. When Peter is convinced at the end that Maggie was actually telling the truth (having seen the handshake), all that story comes down to is his choice: to take Abigail out the open door, or to return her to her class (and her life). Essentially, the choice is whether to lose the war right then, or fight for a chance. Or, if you want to look at it more philosophically, the choice is between having faith in Maggie or being conned by the establishment (notice the complete reversal from the initial perception of the movie).

    That is why the picture is called The Sound of my Voice. It is the most important line in the movie, because it triggers his memory of his having a choice.

    That's it.

    (Also, as a side note: my own theory is that Peter could be Maggie's father, along with Abigail being her mother. He has a complex flashback montage in the end during which one of the scenes shown is that of the blood that he gives, and that Maggie receives through the machines. A family member would probably make the perfect blood donor. But this theory is just speculation at this point, although he seems to have a complete revelation during that scene.)
    10 years 4 months ago
  3. BadFluffy's avatar

    BadFluffy

    Another brilliant piece of storytelling by Marling and Batmanglij. As always, you'll be left with more questions than answers but it's worth the trip just to experience the ride.
    A lot of people are disappointed by the end because they feel they are left hanging but I think they gave us just enough to work it out for ourselves and I love movies that leave you thinking things out for hours/days/weeks after the credits roll.

    This movie is many things all at once but disappointing is not one of them.
    4 years 10 months ago
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