The struggles of the oppressed against those in power across six different time periods are linked together.
Cloud Atlas is based on an award-winning 2004 novel by British writer David Mitchell with a "nesting" format of six stories, each interrupted halfway, recurring as an existing text in the following one, until boomeranging back and completing themselves in reverse order. Siblings Andy and Lana Wachowski (creators of the "Matrix" trilogy), proceeded cautiously with plans to adapt the unwieldy work, eventually drafting their friend Tom Tykwer (the German filmmaker behind Run Lola Run and Perfume) to join their team. Mitchell was approached repeatedly for notes and suggestions.
To solve the narrative problem of the nested stories, the decision was made to cross-cut between all of them for the entire length of the film, with the benefit of more clearly drawing parallels between the characters in the assorted time frames. After a rollercoaster of various financial partners, the trio was eventually greenlighted to begin production. The stories were split in half, with Tykwer directing the three segments taking place in the 20th Century, and the Wachowskis directing the larger-scale segments in the 1800's and the future. Most of the film was shot in Germany, with additional location work in the UK and Mallorca, Spain.
A wide roster of international actors were asked to play multiple characters (some as much as six roles) in the film, stressing the novel's idea of transmigrating souls or eternal recurrence. Oscar winners Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, and Jim Broadbent are joined by British actors Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord Of The Rings), Hugh Grant, Ben Wishaw (Perfume), and Jim Sturgess; Korean actress Doona Bae, Chinese actress Xun Zhou, and American actor Keith David (There's Something About Mary). Almost all went through extensive makeup throughout the production, at times changing gender and/or their race.
Behind the camera, Oscar winner John Toll (Legends Of The Fall, Braveheart) worked alongside the Wachowskis, while Tykwer retained his frequent collaborator Frank Griebe. As he has on all of his films, Tykwer composed the musical score, joined by bandmates Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil. Undoubtedly their most complicated work to date, the score uses different approaches for each segment of the film, while utilizing recurring motifs from the "Cloud Atlas Sextet" symphony written by one of the stories' characters, and stands out as the film's most widely-praised element.
The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and received a 10-minute standing ovation. While critical response was mixed across the board, many of those approving were enthusiastic in their response. The most expensive production in German history, it was recognized with 10 German Film Award nominations, winning for its editing, score, production and costume design.
Running time is approx. 2 hrs, 45 minutes.
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