Up There

The events unfold in the present day, evidenced by modern vehicles such as a Fiat Punto and current urban environments. The afterlife premise sits atop recognizable, everyday locations, creating a liminal space that feels plausible within a modern world. The narrative uses contemporary details to anchor the fantastical journey in a recognizable timeframe.

The film centers around a sterile re-start centre for the newly dead, a bureaucratic waiting room where counselling and assessments determine who moves up. The story travels to a seaside town connected to the afterlife’s mysteries, with important scenes in a quiet library and bustling urban streets. Other locales include an all-night garage and a strip club, showing how the living and dead worlds intersect in familiar, contemporary settings.

🗂️ Bureaucracy

The afterlife functions like a rigid bureaucracy, with roles, counselling sessions, and promotions that determine who gets to 'move up'. This structure probes how people cope with death and search meaning within a system that feels impersonal yet strangely governed by rules.

🕊️ Grief & Letting Go

Martin’s journey is framed by his struggle with loss and the ache of unfinished business. He must reconcile his desire to control his fate with the necessity of letting go and accepting closure, a process mirrored by the town’s lingering dead.

🤝 Friendship & Companionship

Martin’s bond with Rash drives much of the plot, blending friction with loyalty as they navigate the afterlife’s rules. Their partnership highlights how companionship persists even in a surreal, liminal space and tests their morals as they chase the truth behind Chick’s death.