There’s a lot going on in Aviva, an experimental new film that often defies easy description. At its core, this is a romantic drama about two lovers, but that’s very much just what’s on the surface. Through a very bold approach, both in terms of a structural decision, as well as a fearless display of nudity and sexuality, Aviva is a movie that some will find enthralling, while others will find pretentious. I’ll admit to occasionally being befuddled by the flick, but there’s an hypnotic quality to it all that quickly wins you over. Hitting this weekend, it’s being described as a mash up of Climax and Marriage Story, and while that’s not quite accurate, it’s a solid starting point. Mostly, it’s something wholly unique. The movie is hard to explain, so forgive me if I use some of the official synopsis to begin. This is how IMDb describes it, presenting a deceptively simple story: “After meeting online, transatlantic lovers Aviva and Eden embark on a tumultuous courtship, love affair and marriage. The couple struggles, separates, and tries to get back together, as dual aspects of each one’s personality battles forces inside and out.” Yes, that’s all true, but Aviva and Eden are played as both male and female, at different points, with the former being mostly Zina Zinchenko, but also Or Schraiber, while the latter being either Tyler Phillips or Bobbie Jene Smith (who also contributes the choreography). It makes for a dreamy and impressionistic experience, filled with moveable characters, a light sense of confusion, and plenty of dancing. Boaz Yakin writes and directs, with cinematography by Arseni Khachaturan. Other cast members include Omri Drumlevich, Lorenzo Jackson, Yiannis Logothetis, Annie Rigney, Isaias Santamaria, Mouna Soualem, and many more. Where to begin? You don’t have to be a dance aficionado to appreciate the style Boaz Yakin is offering up here. The quartet of Tyler Phillips, Bobbie June Smith (again, the mastermind of the film’s choreography), Or Schraiber, and Zina Zinchenko give their alls here, committing to putting their hearts, as well as nude bodies, on display. The graphicness might be initially jarring, but it soon becomes part of the vibe. It’s never meant to shock you, merely to free you up from conservative notions. It’s quite a risk on Yakin’s part, but it does pay off in a pretty strong manner. Aviva probably could have told its story a bit […]