“Cold Souls,” the 2009 Sundance selection written and directed by Sophie Barthes, envisioned a world where people can store their souls in order to remove the hurt and pain from their lives. Paul Giamatti (“Sideways,” “Lady in the Water”) plays himself, a depressed but successful actor. He hears about the Soul Storage service from his agent, and soon thereafter Giamatti ventures into a futuristic office run by soul specialist Dr. Flintstein, played by David Strathairn (“Good Night and Good Luck”).
Before long, Giamatti’s soul is in storage – a frozen locker system. But he soon regrets his soullessness and takes advantage of the Soul Storage’s catalogue to rent another person’s soul that was donated anonymously. While Giamatti adjusts to effects of having a stranger’s soul, a Russian named Nina (Dina Korzun) struggles with the difficulties of being a soul “mule,” who transports souls back and forth from St. Petersburg, Russia, to America.
The film takes a humorous and important look at an aspect of humanity that has been disussed for millenia: the soul. While the film may not provide overt answers, it certainly raises some interesting questions. Although the film suffers from a slow-paced ending that removes the story’s forward momentum, it still provides a refreshingly unique movie-going experience. Barthes’ clever and engaging script pulls viewers in, and Giamatti’s outstanding self-portrayal keeps them hooked for the remainder of the story.
* Cold Souls – 8 out of 10.