Save State, written and directed by Scott Sawitz, is built around one simple question: what lengths would you go to in order to save your relationship with the love of your life? This comedic sci-fi tale sits proudly in a lineage of micro-budget time travel films from the last 20 years. However, unlike some of the films it stands in conversation with, this is at its best not when exploring the implications and technology of time travel but rather when it acts as a meditation on rumination, regret, and personal growth.
Save State opens by introducing us to Chris (Gabriel Fries) and his girlfriend, Veronica (Jessie Carl). From the beginning, their chemistry seems off, and it becomes apparent that all is not well. Chris seemingly spends much of his time playing retro video games or discussing pop culture with his best friend and source of comic relief, Daniel (Ilya Gaidarov). Chris is oblivious to the fact that Veronica is clearly ready for a change. When she breaks up with him, it shocks Chris, but not the audience, who sees it coming from a mile away.
“Chris tries to go back in time to prevent his breakup…”
After the breakup, which is well written and staged as a brutally realistic end to a relationship, the story jumps one year in the future. Daniel has moved in with Chris, who is still not over Veronica. While chastising his friend to move on, Daniel reveals that he has invented a time travel device and explains its mechanics to Chris. Chris tries to go back in time to prevent his breakup the first chance he gets. Instead, he immediately gets into the same fight with Veronica as before. Determined to change the past, Chris decides to try again and again, and before we know it, his time travel excursions become an obsession. Eventually, he goes back and convinces Veronica to marry him, but even this marriage doesn’t stick, as it becomes increasingly clear that Chris has wholly failed to work on himself.
All in all, Save State is an admirable effort and a compelling journey through time that never outstays its welcome. However, it’s still a film that suffers from serious limitations. The cinematography and editing seem quite amateurish across the board and, at specific points, make the film difficult to watch. While much of the dialogue works and the characters are reasonably fleshed out, much of the interplay between Daniel and Chris plays out in excessive pop culture references. Some of these references land, but unless you’ve played hours of vintage Mega Man, a lot of this falls flat and comes across as cringe.
Ultimately, despite these deep flaws, Save State manages to overcome its technical restrictions by focusing on very real and powerful themes. The stellar writing and performances aid these themes in feeling authentic. It deals with relationships, breakups, and their aftermath. By the end, we can relate to Chris and his pain but also recognize his need to grow if he wants true closure. If you’re interested in seeing a relatively fresh take on the time travel concept, you could do much worse.
"…stellar writing and performances..."
