Connections are everywhere, whether we like it or not. The very principle of missing out on the electronic kind of social influence plays out in the new film “Save Yourselves!”. This Sundance selection, self described as a sci-fi rom-com, ventures into the perils as well as the advantages of putting down those dreaded devices for a moment.
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The film explores the lives of Jack (John Reynolds) and Su (Sunita Mani). While the couple may be together, they’re finding much of their lives apart thanks to digital devices. It doesn’t get any easier as these city dwellers are surrounded by friends intent on pushing their electronic obsessions. Worries about losing a relationship push the couple to head towards a cabin situated far away from the city. As the two vow to put down the devices for a week they also find that life never goes quite as planned. The lack of communication from the outside world keeps them out of the loop during an unseen attack on Earth. It’s all or nothing for the couple as they try a return to life as they knew it while decoding what has just occurred.
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This idea is grounded in the thoughts of writer-director Eleanor Wilson. The disconnect of a secluded writing retreat gave her the spark for exploring what could happen when someone is cut off from their devices. Wilson brought her idea to co-writer and director Alex H. Fischer. Together they crafted what would become the screenplay for “Save Yourselves!”.The pair reflected on the experience of working as a team to craft the script. “Sometimes when you’re writing by yourself, you think that something is coming across,but it’s not and you don’t realize that until other people read it,” Wilson said. “The other benefit is that if you get sleepy and just take a nap, the screenplay keeps getting written,” Fischer jokingly added.
Ben Sinclair, John Early, Johanna Day, Gary Richarson, Jo Firestone, Zenobia Shroff, and Amy Sedaris also star in “Save Yourselves!”. The film opens in theaters October 2nd and on VOD October 6th. Catch the film’s newest trailer.