Diminished Reality

In a near future where personalized augmented reality overlays every aspect of life, a grieving widower struggles to accept the loss of his wife. He becomes increasingly obsessed with a digital recreation of her, blurring the lines between memory, reality, and the manufactured world around him. As the technology offers solace, it also threatens to consume him entirely, forcing him to confront the true nature of love and loss in an increasingly artificial existence.

Diminished Reality received a mixed to positive reception, with critics praising its ambitious concept and haunting atmosphere, though some found its pacing uneven. Audience reactions were similarly divided, appreciating its thought-provoking themes while questioning the plausibility of its futuristic elements.

• Praised for its exploration of grief and technology's impact on human connection.

• The film's visual design and performances, particularly Hawke's, were frequently highlighted.

• Some critics found the narrative to be somewhat predictable or overly melancholic.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's emotional depth and its timely commentary on digital life, with many finding Ethan Hawke's performance particularly moving. However, some viewers expressed frustration with the slow burn narrative and felt the film's resolution was too ambiguous.

Nominated for Best Production Design at the Golden Trailer Awards.

The advanced augmented reality interfaces seen in the film were created using a combination of practical effects and cutting-edge CGI, with the VFX team aiming for a seamless integration that felt both futuristic and disturbingly plausible.