This movie actually seemed interesting at first.Then it got a little slow.I stuck with it,because I REALLY wanted to understand it,and find out what happened when they reached the top.So I continued to watch and wait.and wait.and wait some more.Then,the end was reached,she got to the top and....nothing.Now I'm all for leaving something to the imagination,but for God's sake(not to mention the rest of us)give us some thing!! I mean what is the payoff for waiting over an hour and a half? Because it should be more that what we got! Which was what exactly? She felt love for the young boy,so was defeated? Didn't annihilate/save? the world after all? Maybe the director ran out of money and couldn't properly finish it,because I feel way to much was left to the imagination.I don't want to have to supply the ending myself!
19 Reviews
Incredibly dull and slow
Antagonisten22 November 2003
Normally i have no problem with mid- to slow-paced films. I commend the director who takes his time to tell a story in todays hysterical film-industry. But unfortunately you need to know what story you´re telling...
I have no idea what director Karim Hussain really wanted to say with this film. It´s a sort of post-apocalyptic drama about three women going after the one who killed god. Apparently all humans were given the ability to do miracles, and the world was thrown into chaos as everyone started abusing that power. Now three women are climbing an old factory where, on the top floor, the one who started the whole downfall of society is waiting. By killing him/her they will destroy the world and end this nightmare.
The story was fine, until the movie started... The movie is simply just an excruciatingly slow display of three women climbing metal stairs while airing nonsensical philosophical statements. All the while minimalistic industrial music grinds in the background. And absolutely nothing happens. I know that i wasn´t the only one finding this to be a test in endurance, out of perhaps 70 present in the audience about 5 people left before the film was over. To compare this to Tarkovskij (as some people have) is an abomination. This is slow, painful and quite frankly shallow. I rate this 1 out of 10.
I have no idea what director Karim Hussain really wanted to say with this film. It´s a sort of post-apocalyptic drama about three women going after the one who killed god. Apparently all humans were given the ability to do miracles, and the world was thrown into chaos as everyone started abusing that power. Now three women are climbing an old factory where, on the top floor, the one who started the whole downfall of society is waiting. By killing him/her they will destroy the world and end this nightmare.
The story was fine, until the movie started... The movie is simply just an excruciatingly slow display of three women climbing metal stairs while airing nonsensical philosophical statements. All the while minimalistic industrial music grinds in the background. And absolutely nothing happens. I know that i wasn´t the only one finding this to be a test in endurance, out of perhaps 70 present in the audience about 5 people left before the film was over. To compare this to Tarkovskij (as some people have) is an abomination. This is slow, painful and quite frankly shallow. I rate this 1 out of 10.
Awful Movie!
phatmanbuff12 June 2003
Everything about this movie is HORRIBLE. I saw the advanced screening of "Ascension" and I was amazed at what I saw. I could not understand how a film like this could get made. Everything about it was awful. The acting was monochromatic, the scenes were atrociously edited and designed, the DIALOGUE was a wonderful effort put in by a third-grade child, the camera movements and shots were uninteresting. The film was bland and repetitive and served no purpose. The only good comments posted about this movie were made by the unimaginitive, banal director. DO ANYTHING TO AVOID SEEING THIS MOVIE, INCLUDING THE GOUGING OF YOUR OWN EYES.
Sucks!
ann-desmarais7 January 2006
I think that all the favorable comments on this site come from the director and his buddies - note the constant Tarkovsky comparisons. Don't be deceived: this film is crap, and a tragic misuse of the talents of three great actresses. The whole thing was just sickeningly repetitive and dull, I felt as though I was watching it for decades. While everything should work: Ir: talent, cinematography, score, lighting - the basic premise of this movie is so pretentious and empty that it's a waste. Spend your money on an Ingmar Bergman flick for the real thing and not some lame wannabe. This emperor has no clothes, people!
A waste of Film
phatmanbuff13 June 2003
I saw a screening of "Ascension" and I could not believe that producers actually funded this. I could not beleive how awful it was. Everything that makes film great: acting, dialogue, camera movements, sets etc were so bland and boring that the only thing that kept me in my seat was the faint hope that 1 thing, JUST ONE thing would be good about it. And you know what, there was not one frame of film in "Ascension" that I found redeeming. Do anything you can not to see this film. The only positive comments that are posted are made by the unimaginative director and his entourage of idiots.
Oh no how could they....
kongen jacob17 November 2008
This is one of the worst movies of all time.
Someone - probably the director - must have told the actors that if they do something slowly, it indicates thought, feelings or something... and the actors must then have though "good idea". They do everything slowly - walk, talk, think...
You keep seeing this midsized building in which they are walking up the stairs, but how can it take so long? oh well they do everything slowly...
It has meaningless lines, delivered slowly and badly. They torture us with bad cut scenes, awful camera handling, awful effects and bad music/sound.
This is terrible, it does nothing for me - except for being annoying. Maybe it is supposed to be controversial, provocative, blasphemous or something; it accomplishes none of this. Forget this title and find something more interesting.
Someone - probably the director - must have told the actors that if they do something slowly, it indicates thought, feelings or something... and the actors must then have though "good idea". They do everything slowly - walk, talk, think...
You keep seeing this midsized building in which they are walking up the stairs, but how can it take so long? oh well they do everything slowly...
It has meaningless lines, delivered slowly and badly. They torture us with bad cut scenes, awful camera handling, awful effects and bad music/sound.
This is terrible, it does nothing for me - except for being annoying. Maybe it is supposed to be controversial, provocative, blasphemous or something; it accomplishes none of this. Forget this title and find something more interesting.
If you want to challenge your view on art
mera_bullar16 December 2008
It is interesting to see how dramatically people react to this movie. You've got to have an open-minded approach to be able to appreciate the slow, poetic vision of the director. If you don't like to think while watching a film, this is simply not for you.
I think this is a fantastic film. The young women have a talent for magic and poetry for this sort of surrealist artistic statement. It is impossible to take your eyes of them. That is probably also the thought of the camera zooms.
There are a lot of memorable lines. They are loaded with among the most cynicism and nihilism I have heard. Sometimes they are so extreme you have to laugh. It's like watching Evil Dead only you react to the dialouge instead of the gore.
Musicwise it is especially interesting. It reminds me of B-science fiction films set in a post-apocalyptic world, like Cyborg 3, but obviously with fingertip feeling. It merges with the soothing sound design similar to that in Blade Runner.
Overall, well worth watching if you are into Nietzsche-philosophies and Tarkovsky-symbolism.
I think this is a fantastic film. The young women have a talent for magic and poetry for this sort of surrealist artistic statement. It is impossible to take your eyes of them. That is probably also the thought of the camera zooms.
There are a lot of memorable lines. They are loaded with among the most cynicism and nihilism I have heard. Sometimes they are so extreme you have to laugh. It's like watching Evil Dead only you react to the dialouge instead of the gore.
Musicwise it is especially interesting. It reminds me of B-science fiction films set in a post-apocalyptic world, like Cyborg 3, but obviously with fingertip feeling. It merges with the soothing sound design similar to that in Blade Runner.
Overall, well worth watching if you are into Nietzsche-philosophies and Tarkovsky-symbolism.
Crap
wpws28 November 2007
Its a movie for the people who look into a monochromatic wall and see a piece of art.
Only with lots of imagination can one see here a good movie.
Imagine that the lights are good, imagine that the dialog is good, imagine that...
When i saw the movie,I left after an hour so to not spend more money on the car parking.
There was TWO BLIND GUYS next to me!!!
The movie is mostly dialog but PLEASE!
There wasn't even infrastructures for blind people... (scene description)
Only with lots of imagination can one see here a good movie.
Imagine that the lights are good, imagine that the dialog is good, imagine that...
When i saw the movie,I left after an hour so to not spend more money on the car parking.
There was TWO BLIND GUYS next to me!!!
The movie is mostly dialog but PLEASE!
There wasn't even infrastructures for blind people... (scene description)
brilliant work
friendlyfire13 October 2004
I saw this film at the Sitges festival in December 2003 and it blew my mind. My legs were like jelly as I tried to exit the theatre. I have never been affected like this from a film. The director described it as a "poison". I went up to him afterward and told him that it was, instead, an "antidote".
I can see this splitting audiences in a big way, as the comments here attest. I don't think you could be indifferent. You'll love it or hate it. I loved it because it was well constructed and well executed, self-assured, daring, packing an intensity that made it impossible to take my eyes off the screen, all building to an ending that was so perfect it defies description. See it and decide for yourself.
I can see this splitting audiences in a big way, as the comments here attest. I don't think you could be indifferent. You'll love it or hate it. I loved it because it was well constructed and well executed, self-assured, daring, packing an intensity that made it impossible to take my eyes off the screen, all building to an ending that was so perfect it defies description. See it and decide for yourself.
Beware !
joakim-ericsson20 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I really looked forward to see this movie. I am a big fan of horror/apocalypse stories and a religious/psychological twist is not a bad addition. On the cover it said that the movie was inspired by Tarkovskij, that the Writer/Director will become the next Lynch/Cronenberg. It had all these different movie festival price/selection tags. My thought was: Wow! this will be an awesome dark story that really scares you and it will probably mess with your head as well. Boy was I wrong. This is definitely one of the worst movies I have ever seen, and I have seen many bad ones. It has no story what so ever. Terrible, amateurish and quasi intellectual dialogue, luckily there isn't much of it. The visuals are extremely poor, no atmosphere and the cinematography is non existent. SPOILER WARNING - The movie is about three women (dressed in cloaks) of different ages that walk up the stairs in an old abandoned factory, only one makes it to the top... THAT'S IT. That takes 1 hour and 43 minutes so you can imagine how much time is wasted filming rusty staircases and old concrete walls... with a video camera. The whole movie feels like a bad high school movie project in every aspect, not only the budget. No offense to the makers, making movies is hard. But, having all these tags and recommendations from serious film festivals makes me question the knowledge and intellect of those people. Their only excuse would be if they were not sober when they watched/reviewed this movie. DON'T SEE IT! If this is considered good, I am definitely from the wrong planet.
I'm gonna do you a favour...
vonswartz11 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Don't watch this movie. This is a waste of lifetime.
But really. This IS really otter crap.
The storyline promises something revealing, something groundbreaking. Instead of that, the whole movie is about four women climbing the stairs. Meanwhile they get older - not as much as the spectators though - but I guess that from the female point of view - getting older this fast is bloody intimidating. So I guess this is a horror flick than...
Eventually, the women dies while climbing the stairs,and the people watching this cinematic fecalia are presumed dead of shear boredom. Waiting for just ANYTHING to happen is just plain agony!
In fact; I'd urge you to give away this movie to someone you despite. Maybe they'll be bored enough to jump in front of a train...
But really. This IS really otter crap.
The storyline promises something revealing, something groundbreaking. Instead of that, the whole movie is about four women climbing the stairs. Meanwhile they get older - not as much as the spectators though - but I guess that from the female point of view - getting older this fast is bloody intimidating. So I guess this is a horror flick than...
Eventually, the women dies while climbing the stairs,and the people watching this cinematic fecalia are presumed dead of shear boredom. Waiting for just ANYTHING to happen is just plain agony!
In fact; I'd urge you to give away this movie to someone you despite. Maybe they'll be bored enough to jump in front of a train...
Let's go watch some paint dry!!! It would be much more fun.
markwiseman5-988-10320718 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
WHY, OH WHY, DIDN'T I PAY ATTENTION TO ALL OF THE "1" SCORES?
Yes, unfortunately for me, I did indeed watch every last bit of this movie. With all of the talk in this movie's descriptions about "miracles," there is not a single one which takes place in this movie. The one miracle I did actually experience was when this hatefully bad film finally came to a close - THANK GOD! My time would have been better spent watching paint dry.
A few descriptive words: excruciatingly slow, insipid dialogue and setting, extremely low- budget, with the most anti-climatic ending I have ever witnessed on film. Really, THE MOST ANTI-CLIMATIC ENDING IN THE HISTORY OF FILM. Yawn. And, once more, YAWN. Giving this film a Raspberry Award would be an insult to every other "horrible" movie out there, because this is not worth mentioning at the Raspberry's.
Three ladies, walk up a flight of stairs, in a 12-story building - only, there's about 300 flights to go on the inside. These ladies would lose a race to a turtle. They step over a few dead bodies along the way. They occasionally talk with each other and sit down to take a rest. Every time they get back up, it takes several minutes for them to stand again. They talk a bit more. They take a couple of steps, come across a few more dead bodies, sit down, stand up, talk, walk slowly some more, etc. At the end, only one of the ladies makes it to the top - where she walks up to a young boy and reaches out to take hold of his hand. THE END.
This movie might - possibly - make sense to somebody with a Ph.D. in philosophy, a complete "Art Fag," or another one in the long line of spiteful and hateful "feminists."
Sorry, sitting through this mush-terpiece has awoken a mean streak inside of me which I rarely experience feeling.
Note To Self: NEVER WATCH ANOTHER FILM BY THIS DIRECTOR.
Yes, unfortunately for me, I did indeed watch every last bit of this movie. With all of the talk in this movie's descriptions about "miracles," there is not a single one which takes place in this movie. The one miracle I did actually experience was when this hatefully bad film finally came to a close - THANK GOD! My time would have been better spent watching paint dry.
A few descriptive words: excruciatingly slow, insipid dialogue and setting, extremely low- budget, with the most anti-climatic ending I have ever witnessed on film. Really, THE MOST ANTI-CLIMATIC ENDING IN THE HISTORY OF FILM. Yawn. And, once more, YAWN. Giving this film a Raspberry Award would be an insult to every other "horrible" movie out there, because this is not worth mentioning at the Raspberry's.
Three ladies, walk up a flight of stairs, in a 12-story building - only, there's about 300 flights to go on the inside. These ladies would lose a race to a turtle. They step over a few dead bodies along the way. They occasionally talk with each other and sit down to take a rest. Every time they get back up, it takes several minutes for them to stand again. They talk a bit more. They take a couple of steps, come across a few more dead bodies, sit down, stand up, talk, walk slowly some more, etc. At the end, only one of the ladies makes it to the top - where she walks up to a young boy and reaches out to take hold of his hand. THE END.
This movie might - possibly - make sense to somebody with a Ph.D. in philosophy, a complete "Art Fag," or another one in the long line of spiteful and hateful "feminists."
Sorry, sitting through this mush-terpiece has awoken a mean streak inside of me which I rarely experience feeling.
Note To Self: NEVER WATCH ANOTHER FILM BY THIS DIRECTOR.
An astonishing and thoroughly original masterpiece
focus_wracked5 February 2003
I just saw an advance screening of this film and I barely even know what to write, save for saying that I think I've just found my newest favourite movie. This is the kind of discovery that all cineastes dream of crossing paths with. It will be classified as a fantastique or possibly horror film but it is not really possible to box this film into a specific genre. It is horrific, sardonic, poetic (while often sharply satirizing the very sort of poetry that it so eloquently achieves), hypnotic, provocative, grotesque, sumptuously beautiful and haunting in its caustic irony. So, what genre does that put it in? I think we'll need to create a new one, exclusively for Ascension. In an age where most films have lost the courage to take real narrative chances, here is a work where seemingly every line of dialogue takes a new, different kind of risk, and every gamble pays off. The film's pace is unconventional but absolutely perfect(many will probably liken it to Tarkovsky). It is brilliantly constructed. Work with it and you'll find yourself deep in its trance within minutes and from that point there's no going back until the credits begin to roll and you try to put your mind back together. I love the way this film is paced. The cinematography (shot by the writer / director himself) is breathtaking. It also features one of the greatest music scores I've ever heard. I simply cannot rave enough. This might very well be the best Canadian film in years. I want to see it ten more times. Right now. Tonight. DAMN!
Still not over it
maritjohansen7 June 2022
My friend and I have always enjoyed watching all types of arthouse movies. So when we heard of this one we thought "ok cool, this seems like the kinda movie we'd like". We watched this movie in 2004, and now, 18 years later we still talk about "that horrible movie". Just last night my friend said "remember Ascension? I still can't get over that movie". We've recommended the movie to people as a cruel prank, which I'm now thinking no one deserves. We both agree that this is the worst film we've ever seen, and that's saying something.
A New Vision
sgreene-49 January 2004
Ascension is the kind of film you either love or hate. Those who hate it seem quite passionate and will no doubt defend their reasons to the end, but those who love it will also defend their reasons and be passionate about it. Visionary works of art are often subject to polarized points of view, which in my opinion, is what makes them resonate and have longevity.
Karim Hussain is a bold filmmaker. With this film, he has challenged our views and expectations regarding dialogue, music, lighting, cinematography, and even left some questions unanswered; a rare thing in an age where almost every film feeds us answers by the shovelful...
When you leave the theater, Ascension's images, sounds, and possible hidden meanings will linger in your mind. Even if you feel your cinematic status-quo has been turned inside out, one thing you will not feel is indifference.
Karim Hussain's Ascension has just won Best Film at the Sitges International Film Festival in the Official Competition - Noves Visions Section. The film also earned a nomination for Best Film at the Also if you can Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal.
Karim Hussain is a bold filmmaker. With this film, he has challenged our views and expectations regarding dialogue, music, lighting, cinematography, and even left some questions unanswered; a rare thing in an age where almost every film feeds us answers by the shovelful...
When you leave the theater, Ascension's images, sounds, and possible hidden meanings will linger in your mind. Even if you feel your cinematic status-quo has been turned inside out, one thing you will not feel is indifference.
Karim Hussain's Ascension has just won Best Film at the Sitges International Film Festival in the Official Competition - Noves Visions Section. The film also earned a nomination for Best Film at the Also if you can Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal.
The slow violence of dreams.
sgreene-425 August 2003
I do not recommend you see this movie if you are not a fan of Andrei Tarkovsky and Stanley Kubrick, or are only into gore and action flicks. I recommend you see this film if you like imaginative camera work, intricate sound design and evocative, memorable music.
The performances by the three leads may at first seem awkward, but paying close attention to the dialogue and interations between the three women will reveal the many layers that comprise their characters.
Kudos to David Kristian for providing a soundtrack reminiscent of the best John Carpenter or Tangerine Dream scores from the late 70s-early 80s, and for adding sound design so deep and disturbing that it might as well have been credited as a fourth lead character.
Hussain's compositions and lighting are also noteworthy, as he eschews the usual darkness and blue hues to instead bathe his characters and locations in pale natural light that becomes even more disturbing.
I was a little confused by the film's ending, but this is the kind of film you should own and have playing in the background as an atmosphere piece, slowly soaking it in over several years until you get every bit of its clever subtext.
The performances by the three leads may at first seem awkward, but paying close attention to the dialogue and interations between the three women will reveal the many layers that comprise their characters.
Kudos to David Kristian for providing a soundtrack reminiscent of the best John Carpenter or Tangerine Dream scores from the late 70s-early 80s, and for adding sound design so deep and disturbing that it might as well have been credited as a fourth lead character.
Hussain's compositions and lighting are also noteworthy, as he eschews the usual darkness and blue hues to instead bathe his characters and locations in pale natural light that becomes even more disturbing.
I was a little confused by the film's ending, but this is the kind of film you should own and have playing in the background as an atmosphere piece, slowly soaking it in over several years until you get every bit of its clever subtext.
A New Vision
sgreene-49 January 2004
Ascension is the kind of film you either love or hate. Those who hate it seem quite passionate and will no doubt defend their reasons to the end, but those who love it will also defend their reasons and be passionate about it. Visionary works of art are often subject to polarized points of view, which in my opinion, is what makes them resonate and have longevity.
Karim Hussain is a bold filmmaker. With this film, he has challenged our views and expectations regarding dialogue, music, lighting, cinematography, and even left some questions unanswered; a rare thing in an age where almost every film feeds us answers by the shovelful...
When you leave the theater, Ascension's images, sounds, and possible hidden meanings will linger your mind. Even if you feel your cinematic status-quo has been turned inside out, one thing you will not feel is indifference.
Karim Hussain's Ascension has just won Best Film at the Sitges International Film Festival in the Official Competition - Noves Visions Section. The film also earned a nomination for Best Film at the Also if you can Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal.
Karim Hussain is a bold filmmaker. With this film, he has challenged our views and expectations regarding dialogue, music, lighting, cinematography, and even left some questions unanswered; a rare thing in an age where almost every film feeds us answers by the shovelful...
When you leave the theater, Ascension's images, sounds, and possible hidden meanings will linger your mind. Even if you feel your cinematic status-quo has been turned inside out, one thing you will not feel is indifference.
Karim Hussain's Ascension has just won Best Film at the Sitges International Film Festival in the Official Competition - Noves Visions Section. The film also earned a nomination for Best Film at the Also if you can Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal.
A true gem you need to discover!
contact-896 June 2003
Warning: Spoilers
It was a nice delight to see 'our' Marie-Josée Croze win a Cannes Award, but I must admit I have yet to see Les Invasions... But in light of her recent success, I had to stop by here and give words of praise for her previous film, Ascension.
I had the chance to see a preview screening in my hometown and all I can say is that I was truly impressed! Marie-Josée is fabulous in it (along the two other actresses who form a triangle of incestuous sarcasm) in this story where... Well I don't want to write any spoilers here since the movie is not officially out...
All I can say is that Karim Hussain's work as a director is quite remarkable. Taking advantage of the industrial qualities of an abandoned silo to paint his 'cold' sarcastic sci-fiesque story, he also manages to perfectly blend surreal horror moments reminiscent of David Lynch's work.
A brand new film unlike anything else and a great refreshing movie that will surely see its way into the public's brain. No matter who you are! And if you like to be confronted with new, boldly worlds of cinematic expressions, then rush to the theatre when this film comes out, and I can guarantee it will sooth your taste for quality cinema!
I can't wait to see it again, and you can bet I'm going to keep an eye on that new director.
I had the chance to see a preview screening in my hometown and all I can say is that I was truly impressed! Marie-Josée is fabulous in it (along the two other actresses who form a triangle of incestuous sarcasm) in this story where... Well I don't want to write any spoilers here since the movie is not officially out...
All I can say is that Karim Hussain's work as a director is quite remarkable. Taking advantage of the industrial qualities of an abandoned silo to paint his 'cold' sarcastic sci-fiesque story, he also manages to perfectly blend surreal horror moments reminiscent of David Lynch's work.
A brand new film unlike anything else and a great refreshing movie that will surely see its way into the public's brain. No matter who you are! And if you like to be confronted with new, boldly worlds of cinematic expressions, then rush to the theatre when this film comes out, and I can guarantee it will sooth your taste for quality cinema!
I can't wait to see it again, and you can bet I'm going to keep an eye on that new director.
We've come to kick gods corpse
lollylagrogers27 October 2021
If you want a fast horror film full of jump scares and a high budget, this probably won't be for you.
If instead you're cool with a low budget, slow burning, tense philosophy vehicle well then you might like this.
I personally love it, something about it reminds me of Stalker. As the backdrop for the film is one that would usually warrant spectacle, it kind with the overall themes of the film that we don't see the abhorrent miracles performed out in the wider world, instead the location for the story is the only place miracles cannot be performed.
This might be a let down for some, but I think it's a severely over looked broken masterpiece.
If instead you're cool with a low budget, slow burning, tense philosophy vehicle well then you might like this.
I personally love it, something about it reminds me of Stalker. As the backdrop for the film is one that would usually warrant spectacle, it kind with the overall themes of the film that we don't see the abhorrent miracles performed out in the wider world, instead the location for the story is the only place miracles cannot be performed.
This might be a let down for some, but I think it's a severely over looked broken masterpiece.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
