Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘I Origins’: Sci-Fi Reimagining of a Reincarnation Ritual

Mark Jackson
Updated:
January 18, | | 1h 46min

Tibetan monks go on searches for reincarnated lamas. They have a method. They track them via word of mouth, cosmic hints, visions, and dreams, to remote villages, hauling lama accouterments of previous incarnations. They then display said accouterments before the suspected reincarnated infant lama, inquiring, “Which was your rattle? Which was your drum? Was this your feather?”

His excellency the Dalai Lama and the reincarnation of venerable monk Geshe Lama Konchog, in "Unmistaken Child," (Oscilloscope)
His excellency the Dalai Lama and the reincarnation of venerable monk Geshe Lama Konchog, in "Unmistaken Child," Oscilloscope

When they find a child who is able to correctly point out all his previously-owned artifacts, the Dalai Lama is notified, who then travels there, inspects and interviews the boy, and tells the parents, “Keep him clean!” Meaning they should shelter the boy from the big dye vat of corrupting modern influences.

That’s not the story of “I Origins.” That’s 2008’s documentary “Unmistaken Child,” where monk Tenzin Zopa of Nepal goes in search of the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog, his former master.

A secularized telling of the same ritual crops up in “I Origins,” directed by Mike Cahill, but in science-fiction format. Molecular-biology thriller-romance format, to be exact.

Does reincarnation exist? Does God? Is our universe really the product of intelligent design? Is there such a thing as heaven? A handful of 2014 films pose these questions about faith, to varying degrees of success. “Son of God“ tackled the subject by drilling down on the source material, while ”Heaven Is for Real“ told a real-life modern tale of a little boy who claimed he'd gone to heaven and seen Jesus.

‘I Origins’

Michael Pitt plays molecular-biologist-to-be Ian Gray, a young Ph.D. candidate. He’s an eye specialist. He wishes to disprove religious doctrine by examining the evolution of the human eye, and seeing if he can outwit evolution by developing eyes for blind worms. Flying the geek flag, Ian shows up at a Brooklyn hipster party in a lab coat, toting a camera and taking pictures of people’s eyes.
Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt) in the subway looking for love, in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt) in the subway looking for love, in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures

As such, it’s not a bad pickup ploy. Up on the roof, he suddenly notices Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) standing in the shadows, looking like Cat Woman. Out comes the camera, and her long-lashed, exquisite green-and-brown, gold-flecked eyes go in the database.

The eyes of Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Gray's life, in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
The eyes of Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Gray's life, in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures

He then proceeds to yak too much. This is a beauty; she'll not be tolerating the geek-fest he’s serving up and abruptly disappears. But the drug of obsession is already in his veins; he can’t eat, he can’t sleep, he must find that girl again.

One day he gets in the zone—he decides to blindly follow the coincidental number sequences and random serendipitous hints that suddenly crop up, which lead straight to seeing Sofi and her unforgettable eyes again. How he eventually finds her is one of your more imaginative “meet-cutes.” They’re complete opposites; opposites attract.

More eyes of Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Gray's life, in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
More eyes of Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Gray's life, in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures

Many men, especially young men, will choose addictive female beauty and physical chemistry over the ability to share thoughts and be understood. Ian and Sofi move in together, but Sofi increasingly frustrates his rigorous scientist’s mind with her intuitive musings. Her next, over-the-top, violent, and final disappearance closes the door on Ian’s atheism, and opens a window to his spirituality. But this is only one half of the story.

Even more eyes of Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Gray's life, in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Even more eyes of Sofi (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Gray's life, in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures

Linking Lifetimes

Ian’s second great love is soulmate Karen (Brit Marling). A brilliant blond med student and lab assistant, she’s a fellow tribe member who burns with the passion of their shared calling. They’ve got the intimacy of a deep meeting of the minds.
Ian (Michael Pitt) and Karen (Brit Marling) are soulmate scientists, in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Ian (Michael Pitt) and Karen (Brit Marling) are soulmate scientists, in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures
Their work leads them to this concept: No two pairs of eyes are the same, but if a match does occur, it can only mean one thing: namely, a person having the exact eye structure as another—is the reincarnation of its previous possessor.

Hmm..

That’s the far-fetched premise of “I Origins,” and some early, effective sci-fi sleight-of-hand may very well have you believing it’s more science than fiction.

Years later, Ian and Karen are married, their work is recognized, and after the birth of their son, on a doctor’s recommendation, they subject him to some autism tests. The lab, the doctor, and the results seem fishy. That doctor should have known better than to mess with the kid of two determined, world-class, cutting-edge experts in the same field.

The son of Ian (Michael Pitt) and Karen (Brit Marling) is subjected to eye-scanning, in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
The son of Ian (Michael Pitt) and Karen (Brit Marling) is subjected to eye-scanning, in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures
With the help of Ian’s old sell-out roommate Kenny (Steven Yeun, of “Minari“) who is now the creator the worldwide iris scan database, they look for matches to their son’s scans. He would appear to have the exact same eyes as the only African-American farmer living in Boise, Idaho. Who just died. Well, well, well. What have we here?
As a test, Steven then helps Ian and Karen run photos of deceased family members, plus various other people’s eyes through the database to see if there are any other recent matches. They get a hit for Sofi, whose iris scan matches one made in India just three months prior, years after Sofi’s disappearance.
Karen (Brit Marling) and Ian (Michael Pitt) are soul-mate scientists in "I Origins." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Karen (Brit Marling) and Ian (Michael Pitt) are soul-mate scientists in "I Origins." Fox Searchlight Pictures
Ian flies to India; apparently there’s a young girl there with those self-same eyes, and this is where the latter-day lama search sequence of “Unmistaken Child” is played out.

Balderdash?

Eye scans are the new fingerprints. It’s happening now. There’s a post-credits teaser (like the Marvel superhero sequel teasers) so make sure you keep watching. This one is a little creepy in a sort of apocalyptic, conspiracy-theory way.

All acting is stellar, the cinematography is  fabulous, Kashish (the child actor they found in an orphanage in India) is riveting, and the writing and directing, dead on.

This metaphysical love story asks more questions than it can answer, but answers aren’t the point of the film; ideas are. It'll make you think. A lot. And as of yet, we have no science on reincarnation, but the science fiction seems to be getting warmer.

‘I Origins’ Director: Mike Cahill Starring: Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, William Mapother Running Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes MPAA Rating: R Release Date: Jan. 18, 2014 Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times. In addition to the world’s number-one storytelling vehicle—film, he enjoys martial arts, weightlifting, motorcycles, vision questing, rock-climbing, qigong, oil painting, and human rights activism. Jackson earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by a classical theater training, and has 20 years’ experience as a New York professional actor, working in theater, commercials, and television daytime dramas. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook “How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World,” which is available on iTunes and Audible. Jackson is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic.
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