Henry Alex Rubin
Disconnect

three stories, all different from each other, that narrate three terrifyingly current themes: cyberbullying, internet scams, and online prostitution.

PLOT (spoilers)

Story 1: A lonely and dreamy boy becomes a victim of cyberbullying due to two bullies who create a fake profile on Facebook making him believe an invented girl is in love with him. Ben (the boy's name) after a stupid gesture (he photographs himself naked with his private parts writing "love slave") becomes the laughingstock of the school, being ridiculed by everyone. Thus, he attempts an extreme gesture: suicide, from which he is miraculously saved, causing his previously indifferent father to reflect, and he will look for the responsible person.

Story 2: A couple in crisis after the birth of a stillborn child begins to experience turbulence. Cindy, the wife, contacts a stranger in a private chat who then robs them of their entire bank account on their credit card. The two then seek the culprit themselves, rediscovering love.

Story 3: An investigative journalist looks for something useful for a scoop and finds an online dating site, encountering a young gigolo who agrees to her interview. The report is a success, but a good relationship is born between the two, endangering Nina's (the journalist) career, and she tries to get those boys out of cybersex.

END SPOILER.

The film closely resembles Crash - Contatto Fisico from 2007 in style, a sort of younger sibling. This does not mean the film is trivial, on the contrary.

The themes are unfortunately somehow related to all of us: social media is common today, and it makes us think that perhaps they have distanced us more than they have brought us closer. It might seem trivial for those aware of the dangers these sites can cause, but it is never so.

Personally, I find Ben's story the most successful. The themes of cyberbullying are particularly close to my heart, especially today. I have never suffered from it, thank heaven, but I can understand those who can't even leave the house because they are "different." Silly or senseless criticism of your way of dressing or speaking. It may seem funny, but reaching those limits becomes unbearable. And the worst is social media, as everyone can see your photos, a single mistake (as in Ben's case) and you can ruin your life.

CONCLUSION

I don't find any evident flaws in this film: the pace is really well-tested, one never gets bored, the stories are all well developed with rapid changes from story to story with an ever-increasing tension.

A rather unnoticed film among us, Disconnect is a drama about modern existence and how your life can change due to technology.

It is a well-thought-out and well-made critique of the misuse of the internet and its consequences, but also truths about online encounters and the consequences of trusting strangers too much. For many, they are obvious trivialities; for others, this film could open their eyes. Recommended!