Nine Days (2020)

Will (Winston Duke), a reclusive man conducts a series of interviews with human souls for a chance to be born.

NINE DAYS is a profound, intriguing, and provocative existentialist movie that explores the purpose of life and how to live it when faced with the reality of mortality.

Winston Duke plays the complex, jaded, wounded interviewer with calm intensity as he tries to work out who should be born and who should become non-existent. The story is deep, confronting, and compelling. After viewing it, I found myself thinking deeply about how I live my life, what it means, what its purpose is, and whether I am valuing it appropriately given its shortness.

NINE DAYS is an original approach to these themes. Clearly made on a relatively low budget, it communicates its message without bombastic special effects — which is a refreshing change. It’s an excellent debut for Edson Oda who wrote and directed. There is so much to think about in NINE DAYS that it’s going to take another watch and more than nine days to explore it. Art like this comes along rarely and will make you think about how you view the world. It won’t be for everyone, but if you want to think deeply and go beyond entertainment, check it out.

(Opening in cinemas in Australia on July 15, 2021 – check your movie guide for your local show times.)