If we approach film in a metaphorical scientific way, we could describe a film as a set of chemical formulas or physics equations. Driven by an electrical or a magnetic power that pushes and pulls and makes everything move through time and space. We could see the characters being affected by these forces, played like puppets, mixed and shaken in these lab experiments. And also the camera is just as much part of this as anything else in a scene, it can create tension and attraction but also it can be pushed and pulled by the same forces.

This is not just a way to decipher the cryptic images into meaningful movements. It can as well be applied to the moral of a film. It is the chemical reaction between the spectator and the subject in front of him, which can result in attraction or aversion.

We can see this clearly happening in 'Modest Reception' (Mani Haghighi, 2012, Iran) where the magnets are turned multiple times resulting in a disturbing circular movement of the sympathy towards the characters. An initial act of altruism turns into an absurd kind of sadism, which triggers a hesitating smile on the face of the spectator bending towards disgust. The substance starts boiling, but then, just before the explosion a new element is added which tranquilizes this chemical mixture. The oppressors become victims of their own deeds, allowing a quite digestible end result of what could have been extremely dangerous.

A similar effect is produced by 'Post Tenebras Lux' (Carlos Reygadas, 2012, Mexico) but not necessarily while watching it. The rich man is rich and the rich man is good, the poor man is poor and the poor man is bad. The traumatized boy kills the wealthy man, the caring father, the loving husband. Probably this happens on a daily basis in Mexico. But there is a little acid in this film which makes it more than a simple confirmation. It is what it is and still it is not. Just a few uncomfortable and slightly eerie scenes in this otherwise beautifully shot and harmonic film leaves you with a poisonous residue, which can easily be cast away but should preferably be further anatomized.