Ray (Dean Imperial) is a small time operator in Queen's New York. His sense of style outdated. He says it's based on his father while others call it 70's mobster without the menace. He tries to do all that he can to help his half brother Jamie (Babe Howard) who is suffering from Omnia a controversial form of chronic fatigue syndrome. Ray wants to get his brother the best treatment at an exclusive clinic with a $10,000 a week price tag at the low end. To get the funds Ray has to come out of the stone age and embrace modern technology known as quantum. There is money to be had, the promo pitch is working in the great outdoors.
Director Noah Hutton has created an alternate present or near future drama where workers dreaming of big money crisscrossing state parks pulling a cable cart behind them collecting credits and cash for completing routes. The competition for lucrative routes is fierce, there are checkpoints along the way and the starting and end goal is to plug into the large quantum boxes in the forest. It seems easy enough but there is competition to get the medallions required to work, it's quite easy to get knocked off your route and automatic cabling carts trekking through the park can claim your route if they pass you.
Ray causes a stir as his pal who got him into cabling seems to have slipped him a high level medallion. The associated trail name sparks sneers and snide comments and Ray has mysterious credits videos, and access to lucrative trails in the 120's that normally take years to achieve. He meets up with experienced cabler and activist Anna (Madeline Wise) who has written on the plight of the workers, forced to spend money on company equipment, receive no support should they become injured, and their bathroom breaks are counted.
Lapsis shines the light on the exploitation of workers through the fictitious world of quantum cabling. Bogus treatment centres offering miracle cures for subjective injuries also take a hit . Hutton relies on his experience from his prior documentaries on big business as a framework. The result is an original production that is a cautionary tale of an all too conceivable future where humans are battling robots for jobs.
*** 1/2 Out of 4.
Lapsis | Noah Hutton | U.S.A. | 2020 | 104 Minutes.
Tags: Lost Luggage, Traffic Ticket, Chronic Fatigue, Hiking, Camping, Cable Company, Credits, Routes, Robots, Tea.
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