Cloud Atlas

The Wachowskis & the Cinema of Fluidity, Part VI

If there's one constant in the careers of Lana and Lilly Wachowski, it's that their work tends to split audiences down the middle. And few of their films illustrate that better than CLOUD ATLAS.

Released in 2012 and co-directed with Tom Tykwer, CLOUD ATLAS was called everything from a transcendent masterpiece to an overindulgent mess. But one thing’s certain—it was a passion project, powered into existence almost entirely by the determination of its filmmakers.

In this episode, we track CLOUD ATLAS from its origins as a novel by David Mitchell through the Wachowskis’ years-long struggle to get the film made. We explore how they balanced six storylines across centuries, collaborated with Tykwer’s directing team, and created one of the most expensive independent films of all time. And we dig into how it fits thematically into the Wachowskis' body of work—touching on identity, transformation, and the interconnectedness of all things.

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Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis.