See You Yesterday (3½ Stars)

This is a Netflix original film made by first-time director Stefon Bristol. Two nerdy teenagers from the Bronx have invented a time machine that they want to present at a Science Expo. At first they can only travel back one day, but as they improve the machine in the course of the film they can travel back up to two weeks. Their trips to the past only last 10 minutes. After this they're sucked back to the present by a quantum flux.

16-year-old CJ, full name Christine Josephine Walker, is obviously the biggest genius of the two. Her best friend Sebastian Thomas helps her out, but he's more aware of the philosophical aspects of not creating any time paradoxes. He warns her not to change anything while they're in the past. CJ doesn't listen to him and plays pranks while in the past, like throwing a drink at her ex-boyfriend.

Then the film turns dark. (Some would say it turns political). CJ's older brother Calvin is shot by a policeman. The local community go onto the streets making Black Lives Matter protests. CJ is more practical. She wants to visit the past to save her brother. Sebastian tries to discourage her, but when he can't change her mind he insists on going with her. 10 minutes isn't enough to save Calvin. So they go back again. And again. Each time trip becomes more complicated, because they meet and interfere with other instances of themselves. Each time trip creates bigger problems.

This is a fascinating film that deals with the ethics and practicalities of time travel from a new standpoint. I might have rated it higher, if not for the film's feeling. It has the style of a comedy, even though it's very serious. We're waiting for the laughs to come, but they don't. It's difficult for me to say what should have been done better. It could have been made a clear-cut comedy, like "Back to the Future", or totally serious.

Nevertheless, it's a very good film from a new director, and I'm sure he'll gain experience as he continues. The skills of the unknown actors Eden Duncan-Smith and Dante Crichlow are refreshing. I hope we'll see a lot of them in the future.