Synopsis
Bionic (original title: Biônicos) is a 2024 Brazilian science fiction action thriller directed by Afonso Poyart. It features Bone Gnauth and Arthur Psaradellis. The film depicts a near-future dystopia where humans need augmentation and biomechanical enhancements to progress in life. Bionic interlaces groundbreaking technology, life-and-death battles, and difficult choices all together in one exhilarating journey.
The story is set in the year 2035, an era where biomechanical prosthetics have evolved from mere medical appliances into sophisticated instruments for athletic and military supremacy. In today’s society where sporting competitiveness is glorified, prosthetic limbs and bionic augmentations have emerged as markers of high status and dominance, supehumanizing individuals while dehumanizing us in ways that profoundly alters what it means to be human.
The story follows Maria (Jessica Córes) who is a gifted but disillusioned athlete. Unlike her older sister, Gabi (Gabz), who is a renowned figure in the world of augmented sports, Maria lacks the outward motivation to be competitive. Dominating the bionic competitions, Gabi is the “queen” of the sports and an epitome of success and celebrity. With the help of her bionic enhancements, Gabi has acquired global fame which makes her a role model for many people, and a symbol of perfection in a society obsessed with physical prowess.
In contrast, we have Maria who is a naturalist at heart and unwilling to undergo any kind of enhancement. Unlike other people, she believes that an era fueled by mechanical augmentation can still be tackled with pure human skills. Sadly for her, a tragic accident forces her to accept biomechanical implants if she wants to continue competing. At this point, it is no longer a philosophical question, but rather an existential choice.
Maria faces new battles in the realm of augmented sports. To her surprise, the violence and hostility of the sport is beyond anything she imagined. As mandated, competitions undergo intense violence, ruthless politics, and manipulative corporate interference. The business juggernauts involved in the sport make use of both the athletes and the technology for their profit. Beneath the shimmer of praise from the public is a harsh reality: athletes are reduced to mere goods whose bodies are overstimulated with modifications and upgrades so that they become innovative mechanisms designed solely for entertainment and profit.
The sibling rivalry between Maria and Gabi drives much of the film’s emotional weight. What begins as a straightforward competitive tournament between sisters, boils down to a complex theme of the world from the perspective of identity, resentment, and freedom from increasingly machine-like reality. Each sister attempts to tackle the surge of conflicting emotions within the scope of blending humanity and technology. Maria’s journey highlights self-reflection as one faces serious questions about the level of enhancements made to her body.
Increasing complexity is provided in what is classified as a shadowy corporation, Biodyne Industries, which has oversight on the majority of the technology that enables the sport. Biodyne, headed by the enigmatic Dr. Bruno, has vested interests in enhancing the exploitation of athletes beyond their natural thresholds. Athletic competitiveness has become a true passion for Bruno Gagliasso. He is anointed with the title “Dr. Bruno.” Furthermore, Dr. Bruno depicts the unsettling visage of corporate dreams gone wild. In his eye, an athlete ceases to be a person; rather, athletes are molds of which they can be shaped as merchandise to become marketed.
As Maria uncovers the sinister plans of Biodyne’s next-generation biomechanical upgrade, her choice becomes more and more harrowing. Step into-the-disclosed path of power that can be granted to them and become the ultimate bionic athlete, or dedicate yourself to free will at great personal expense.
Maria battling the robotic limbs of her sisters who are puppets being controlled by an external force serves as the big reveal of the unfolding of Bionic. The first animated movie wins at life, self-determination versus technological self-determination act as the primary poses in this portrayal of the heated battle. Regardless of the drumming beats echoing through every climax, every sequence must admit a touch of nonetheless inviting dose of reflection.
Bionic chooses to take on a more intricate approach, shying away from the oversimplified concept of good vs evil. The narrative does not condemn technology, but questions its charm and the moral tradeoffs that accompany it. The film poses relevant socio-ethical issues concerning autonomy over one’s body, the commodification of human capabilities, and the undertakings made to achieve unprecedented levels of distinction.
Cast & Crew
Bionic is an endeavor that involves a remarkable set of talents and performers:
Jessica Córes as Maria: As the movie’s conflicted lead, Córes captures Maria powerfully. María’s inner battle between integrity and ambition is easily identifiable in the nuance of her performance. She adds to the credibility of being an elite athlete by impressively performing the physical action scenes.
Gabz as Gabi: Gabz is magnetic as both Maria’s sister and archnemesis. Gabi has the charm of a true villain, but also the sensitivity of a tragic figure ensnared by her own pursuit of perfection.
Bruno Gagliasso as Dr. Bruno: Gagliasso brings Biodyne’s cold-blooded, calculating mastermind to life. Gagliasso’s portrayal of corporate greed and dehumanization touches on the film’s critique of capitalism.
Director:
As a stylish filmmaker, Afonso Poyart has a distinct grip on virtually every aspect of both “2 Coelhos” and “Presságios de um Crime.” Having watched his works, one cannot help but wonder as to how Bionic possesses copious amounts of kinetic energy and visual flair. Analyzing his direction, one cannot deny that the action sequences are indeed thrilling, but there is a further deepening concern that reverberates throughout the film: its themes.
Screenplay:
My first impression during the dive into science fiction literature for the first time leaves me optimistic. The book cover itself gives the impression that this is some deeply rooted science fiction—but once again, the co-writers Poyart and Rafael Dragaud succeeded in mixing both high concept sci-fi along with deep character exploration. The screenplay offers good balance with a degree of naturalness in the dialogues, giving space for the audience to breathe while remaining engaged with the hyper-tension the plot exudes in every moment, whether through intense action or through the roller-coaster emotions of complex characters.
Cinematography & Visual Effects:
Arguably the best highlight in the movie, Pedro Luque’s work on the cinematography brought forth astonishing sleekness in capturing the high-end spectacle of the competitions bionics world while simultaneously casing the incessantly grittier underbelly. Alongside it, the team which worked on visual effects meticulously integrated profoundly believable, advanced augmentations into the story, most definitely not forcefeeding it to the audience, preventing the believability of the story from being lost into oblivion.
Music & Sound Design:
In regard to music, Antonio Pinto’s ear really captures the essence of the futuristic world in which the film is set. Blending electronic with aggressive orchestrals is a win in and of itself. Still talking about the ear-candy, it would be a crime not to mention the invigoration felt from the action scenes in regards to sound design. With a focus on the whirring servos, purring limbs of machines moving, and other sounds on the spot, everything felt imagined in a way that stormed the senses.
IMDb Ratings
Bionic currently maintains an estimate of 6.8/10 on IMDb, receiving ample praise from viewers and critics alike post release. Reviews have highlighted the engaging performances of Jessica Córes and Gabz as well as the film’s captivating action paired with social commentary.
Critically, Bionic underscored the importance of ethics revolving body modifications and the commercialization of sports, stating that while the film excels in high octane action and flashy visuals, its core strength is the messages conveyed through its themes. Other reviewers pointed out some pacing issues during the film’s middle act, but overall the reception was favorable, praising the film’s ambition and its thought-provoking narrative.
Conclusion
Bionic manages to captivate with its layered storytelling, thought-provoking ethical concepts, and compelling performances, all while remaining a dizzying sci-fi action movie. It attempts to tackle contemporary fears regarding technology, identity, and the erosion of humanity thrust society obsessed with perfection, enduring deceleration and enhancement through the lens of breathtaking visuals and action sequences.
Bionic is highly recommended to anyone interested in sci-fi thrillers with both a heart and a mind. It is a film that challenges us: how much of ourselves are we willing to give up in the pursuit of excellence, and at what point does enhancement become obliteration? Bionic, through Maria’s incredible journey, reminds viewers that no matter how powerful machines become, the human spirit is still the greatest power we possess.
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