Remainder

Omer Fast’s gripping puzzle-box thriller about an amnesiac reconstructing his elusive past.

Following a bizarre accident a young man (Tom Sturridge) loses his memory but gains a substantial financial pay-off. Using his fortunes he tries to reclaim his lost memories by literally reconstructing his elusive past, buildings, people and all.

Adapted from British author Tom McCarthy’s cult novel, Remainder is the debut feature from Berlin-based video artist Omar Fast and it’s a remarkably precocious debut. Challenging, elliptical and highly original, Remainder is a both a Sudoku-strength enigma and a gripping thriller shot with style and urban sheen. With the feel of early works by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Following), Shane Carruth (Primer, Upstream Color) and Darren Aronofsky (Pi), Remainder could be a similarly significant first step in a promising director’s career.