The Loneliest Planet

Based on the short story "Expensive Trips Nowhere" by Tom Bissell, director Julia Loktev's unconventional (anti-conventional, in fact) narrative offers minimalist scrutiny, bordering on banal, of human behavior under duress. Lovers Nica (Hani Furstenberg) and Alex (Gael García Bernal) backpack through mountain territory in the former Soviet Georgia, dancing in a village dive, making love, practicing foreign-language lessons, and trekking the countryside after engaging a local named Dato (Bidzina Gujabidze) as their guide. The first hour sluggishly creeps past without very much dialogue before a sudden act of near-violence shatters Nica and Alex's intimacy while also redrawing the relationship boundaries. While the ever-present backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains makes for nice scenery, The Loneliest Planet is a dramatically inert trip. Optional, at best. [Note: DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette (30 min.), real-life guide Bidzina Gujabidze's mountaineering photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (C. Cassady)