A chilling vision of the future: Asif Kapadia’s ‘2073’
A dystopian America under Ivanka Trump
Imagine a world where Ivanka Trump celebrates her 30th year as the leader of a dystopian police state that was once the United States. This is the unsettling premise of Asif Kapadia’s latest docudrama, 2073. The film paints a grim picture of a future America, reduced to rubble following an unknown catastrophe in 2036.
“It’s kind of a joke, but it’s also not a joke,” says the British filmmaker, referring to the inclusion of Ivanka Trump in his narrative. Kapadia’s film delves into the contemporary issues of politics, environmental degradation, corruption, race, and technology, which he believes are steering humanity towards this bleak future.
The power of dynasties in American politics
Kapadia’s choice to feature Ivanka Trump is not just for shock value. “If you look at American politics, certain families keep coming into power. The number of people from a tiny gene pool is insane,” he remarks. This observation underscores the film’s critique of political dynasties and their enduring influence.
A provocative response to the status quo
2073, backed by Neon, Double Agent, and Film4, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film is Kapadia’s response to a world where criticizing the status quo or those in power can lead to severe repercussions. “People cannot say anything without risking losing their jobs or worse,” he notes.
The film lays the blame for impending disasters—whether nuclear war, climate change, or other crises—at the feet of leaders, demagogues, tech billionaires, and the 1%. Alongside the Trumps, the film features the Murdochs, Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Xi Jinping, Mohammed Bin Salman, Narendra Modi, the Koch brothers, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and more. These figures are juxtaposed with news clips and amateur footage depicting police brutality, rising fascism, the refugee crisis, mass detentions, bombings, and wildfires.
A blend of documentary and drama
Initially conceived during the lockdown, 2073 was meant to be a documentary set in the future, using factual elements from the present. However, Kapadia decided to blend his drama background with documentary filmmaking, creating a version of life in 2073. Samantha Morton stars as a mute survivor plagued by nightmare visions of the past, living underground while surveillance drones patrol the surface.
The film uses footage from around 60 different countries, pieced together to create a cohesive narrative. Some of the footage is extremely recent, including scenes of devastation in Gaza. “If you feel like you’re onto something in a horrible way, the world comes into sync with the film,” Kapadia says, noting that the war in Gaza, the rise of AI, and the potential end of democracy in the U.S. all began after he started making the film.
A departure from Kapadia’s previous works
2073 marks a significant departure from Kapadia’s previous works, such as Amy, Senna, and Diego Maradona. While these films were infused with elements of drama and fiction, 2073 is an experimental dystopian thriller. Kapadia hopes the film will make people realize that “what’s happening over there will get closer and closer and eventually come to you.”
A filmmaker unafraid to speak out
Kapadia is known for his outspoken views on social media, particularly regarding politics and the situation in Gaza. While this hasn’t hindered his career so far, he acknowledges that 2073 might. “I’ve been lucky enough to have made films and been successful. So honestly, I went into this going, ‘I’m going to chuck it all in, I’m not going to be afraid to say what I see, and if I don’t work again, fine, at least I made this movie.'”
Final thoughts
2073 is a bold and provocative film that challenges viewers to confront the potential consequences of our current trajectory. By blending documentary and drama, Kapadia creates a chilling vision of the future that feels all too plausible. Whether you agree with his perspective or not, 2073 is a film that demands attention and reflection.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit 2073.