Hyperlink cinema: Interesting new phrase. Think “Crash” or “The Player.”
Hyperlink movies are films following multiple story lines and multiple characters. These story lines and characters intersect obliquely and subtly. Events in one story line affect other story lines or characters, often in ways that the characters are unaware of or do not fully understand. Hyperlink cinema is often characterized by globe-spanning locations, multiple languages, multiple characters, strict parameters in art direction and cinematography, and frequent and drastic use of flashback and flashforward. Mise en sc?e are used in each story line, to create an abrupt visual break when cutting between characters and story lines.