Mosquito State
, directed by Filip Jan Rymsza, Poland / USA 2020, 100'
A psychological-entomological thriller in which a mosquito makes its mark on the fate of the protagonist, a stock market analyst. Among the guests at an exclusive party, rich and beautiful blood donors, the insect chooses a mathematical genius (also a loner and a weirdo), Richard Boca. This is the beginning not only of an incredible insect-human metamorphosis, reminiscent of Cronenberg's The Fly, but also of sudden disturbances in an algorithm, which in turn remind us of Aronofsky's Pi. The whole story is, in turn, inspired by the economist and philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the author of the black swan theory, which talks about the influence of sudden, unforeseen events on reality. Both intimate and visually impressive, gripping and superbly performed, Rymsza's film is a commentary to the memorable crisis of 2008. At the same time, it is a warning against a reality controlled by an algorithm, and a praise of the unpredictable: life itself, in which a small change in routine – such as an insect, a cat or a mouldy cork – can shake the foundations of the system.
[New Horizons]
