AMERICAN INDIES

TURN ME ON

2024 / 99 min / color

In a way, the imagined world of Michael Tyburski’s film is similar to that of the popular TV series Black Mirror. The two main characters, Joy (Bel Powley) and William (Nick Robinson), live in a secluded community, a place where – it would seem – all problems have disappeared. They don’t display any negative emotions because they are devoid of all emotion. It’s all because of a special pill they take every day, which also causes them to lose their memory and autonomy. But one day Joy decides to try something different. She persuades her partner to skip their daily dose of vitamins, which causes them to experience the whole spectrum of emotions, from those caused by love, joy or sex, to negative feelings such as jealousy and anger. This is the point where Tyburski’s film changes in tone, from a dystopian story with science fiction elements to a romantic comedy full of tenderness and warmth. The strength of Turn Me On, apart from its great performances, is in its simplicity. It leads us to reflect on our existence in a world of ever-evolving technology and the fact that sometimes it’s the bad times that allow us to appreciate the good times.

• San Sebastián IFF – Youth Jury Award (New Directors section)