‘Level Five’ DVD Review

Level Five tells the story of game developer, Laura, who takes up a project her now deceased boyfriend was working on prior to his death–developing a game based on the Battle of Okinawa. As she researches the battle for the game, she slowly becomes utterly fascinated and obsessed by the tragic WWII battle.

She is utterly blown away and highly disturbed as she learns more and more of the battle that led up to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Okinawa, and she’s horrified to learn that several Japanese individuals committed suicide during the battle to send the Americans a grisly message. Unfortunately, the message was a bit lost in translation. The American forces took the mass suicides as an act of cowardice, not bravery, causing the U.S. Army to feel even more confident in their decision to drop the A-Bomb a few days later.

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The film blurs the lines between science fiction, reality, and documentary. As you watch the movie, you don’t feel like you’re watching a documentary on the Battle of Okinawa, but you also aren’t entirely certain if Laura is a reliable narrator (or if she and her game are even real). However, the film also includes actual interviews from individuals living in Okinawa, and actual postwar footage, rooting the film in reality, creating an interesting and engaging movie experience.

The film itself is interesting and strays from the norm. However, this movie certainly isn’t for everyone. Chris Marker has created a film that doesn’t follow the formula utilized by mainstream films. The pacing can be jarring if you aren’t prepared for it, and the way Marker moves the viewer from reality, to the game, to the documentary-like parts can alienate some viewers. However, there is no doubt that Marker’s film has a loyal, cult following. Fans of Marker’s other films and non-traditional movies will love Level Five.

The audio and video presentations of the film won’t blow you away, but they do just fine. After all, Level Five is a film from 1997, so the “older” video quality and sound are kind of expected. Personally, I thought it kind of added to the experience. The movie feels dated based on the audio and visual presentation, but the story still feels highly engaging and relevant to a modern-day viewer. That “old movie with a modern, relevant message” only added to the viewing experience. Level Five also features a lot of vintage game graphics, which is one of my favorite things about video game movies from the 90s and older.

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There is not a lot to offer in the way of special features. Really, all the DVD has is an 8-page booklet with an essay from Chris Marker. While it is interesting to read Marker discuss his movie and his thought process as he made the movie, it would have been interesting to have some actual special features on the DVD itself.

I went into watching this movie not knowing what to expect. While I was initially caught off guard by Marker’s movie-making style, once I got used to his method of storytelling, I was incredibly captivated by the film. It’s easy to see why this film has experienced such a loyal cult following. While the complaint can be made that most movies coming out of Hollywood today are all remakes or book-to-film adaptations, this movie features a truly original idea and incredibly unique storytelling. The movie surely won’t be for everyone, but for those who appreciate a film that strays from Hollywood norms, this is a must-see.

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