Chain

As regional character disappears and corporate culture homogenizes our surroundings, it’s increasingly hard to tell where you are. In Jem Cohen’s mesmerizing blend of narrative and documentary observation, actual malls, theme parks, hotels, and corporate centers worldwide are joined into a monolithic “superlandscape” that shapes and circumscribes the lives of two women. One is a Japanese businesswoman (Miho Nikaido) researching international theme parks for her company. The other is a young drifter (Mira Billotte) illegally living and working on the fringes of a shopping mall. Though seemingly disconnected, each is similarly impacted by the environment around her.