The Death and Life of Otto Bloom

The chronicle of the life and great love of Otto Bloom, an extraordinary man who experiences time in reverse - passing backwards through the years while remembering the future.

Written and directed by award-winning Australian helmer Cris Jones ("The Funk", "Excursion") THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction and takes Australian drama to creatively mind-bending new heights. The first time feature film stars Xavier Samuel ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse", "Love & Friendship", "Adore") as the ambivalent but fascinating Otto Bloom, proving his exceptional talent alongside three-times Golden Globe® nominee Rachel Ward ("Against All Odds", "The Thorn Birds") and her daughter Matilda Brown ("Am I Okay").

The Death and Life of Otto Bloom chronicles the life and great love of an extraordinary man who experiences time in reverse - wandering blindly into the past, while remembering the future. The film charts Bloom's rise from scientific oddity to international superstar as he searches for love and meaning in this strange, backwards world. Over the years, he has a string of romances while challenging our preconceived notions about life, death and the nature of time. When the world proves to be not yet ready for Bloom's radical ideas, his fall from grace is as swift as it is tragic. But for Bloom, the end is only the beginning?

 

– Press Clippings – 

“The film evolves into a lean, enjoyable, thoughtful work, always with time - so to speak - to throw up an interesting idea or two.”
The Guardian

 

“Cris Jones' debut feature is that rare thing: a mock documentary that reaches a genuine emotional depth.”
The Sunday Age

 

“As far as arthouse fare goes, it's a well-made, theme-rich venture that deploys a variety of inventive techniques.”
3AW

 

“The Death and Life of Otto Bloom stands alongside such Hollywood heavy-hitters on the basis of its sheer ingenuity.”
Daily Telegraph

 

“The message has something - and the philosophical component makes the drama surprisingly unexpected. The Death and Life of Otto Bloom is therefore certainly not for moviegoers who expect a light entertainment film, and neither for those who prefer a history lesson with scientific knowledge - but if you look behind the facade of the philosophical construct with a lot of imagination, you take the film not too serious, an unusual and wonderful love story unfolds - and food for thought for the future.”
Cineman

Awards

Beijing IFF (China): Tiantan Award 2017 for BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

AACTA AWARD 2017 (Australia): BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Cris Jones); and Nomination for BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN (Ben Morieson)

On Vous Ment Mocumentary Festival in Lyon, France, 2019Jury Award + Audience Award for Best Feature Fiilm Fake Documentary