One and Two is a quiet yet haunting indie fantasy drama directed by Andrew Droz Palermo. Blending elements of science fiction, family mystery, and coming-of-age storytelling, the film focuses on isolation, secrets, and the limits of freedom.
Detailed Summary
The Isolated Farm
The story takes place in a secluded farmhouse surrounded by a tall wooden wall, which separates a family from the outside world. The family—consisting of father Zac (Timothée Chalamet), mother Elizabeth Reaser, son Zac, and daughter Eva (Kiernan Shipka)—live in near-total isolation. The parents maintain strict rules and forbid the children from going beyond the wall.
The Children’s Secret
Zac and Eva share a secret that their parents are unaware of—or at least pretend not to be. Both children possess teleportation abilities, allowing them to blink from one place to another instantaneously. They use their powers to escape the confines of their home at night and play in the woods or near the river, enjoying brief moments of freedom.
The Mother’s Illness
Their mother, who suffers from mysterious seizures, becomes increasingly ill. As her condition worsens, the tension within the family grows. The father, deeply religious and controlling, believes that their powers are a curse, a sin that must be hidden or purged. He insists that they remain isolated to avoid the world’s corruption.
The Breaking Point
After the mother’s death, Zac and Eva’s relationship begins to fracture. Their grief and frustration with their father’s harshness push them toward rebellion. Eva, more courageous and restless than Zac, begins to question everything her father has taught them. She dreams of escaping beyond the wall and discovering what lies outside.
Escape and Separation
Eva eventually teleports beyond the wall—something she has always been warned against. What she finds is a world both familiar and alien: open space, distant towns, and people living freely. However, she quickly learns that her father’s warnings weren’t all lies; the world outside is complex and indifferent. She also learns that she’s not entirely alone—there are others like her.
Meanwhile, Zac struggles to control his own powers and begins to succumb to the emotional weight of guilt and fear. Their father’s mental state deteriorates, his obsession with control turning into full paranoia.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Eva fully escapes and makes her way into a nearby town. There, she meets a woman who offers her help and shelter. Through her, Eva begins to experience the normalcy she has long been denied—social interaction, simple pleasures, and connection. Yet even in this freedom, she feels the lingering trauma of her upbringing.
Back at the farm, Zac and his father’s relationship collapses completely. The father’s fear of sin and loss drives him into madness. In an act of desperation, he locks Zac in the cellar, determined to “cleanse” him of his power. Zac eventually uses his teleportation to escape, but it’s implied that he’s broken both physically and emotionally.
The film closes with Eva watching the night sky, symbolizing her new life of uncertainty but also possibility. The ending leaves the audience questioning whether Eva’s freedom will truly bring peace—or if she will forever carry the weight of her family’s secrets. It’s ambiguous, meditative, and open to interpretation, much like the rest of the film.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, One and Two does not have any post-credits scenes. The story concludes definitively with Eva’s escape and reflection, leaving its themes lingering in the viewer’s mind.
Type of Movie
The film is a sci-fi drama with strong fantasy and coming-of-age elements. It’s slow-paced, atmospheric, and heavily symbolic, focusing more on mood and emotion than action.
Cast
- Kiernan Shipka as Eva
- Timothée Chalamet as Zac
- Elizabeth Reaser as Elizabeth
- Grant Bowler as Daniel
Film Music and Composer
The score is composed by Nathan Halpern, known for his minimalist and haunting soundscapes. The music perfectly complements the film’s tone—quiet, eerie, and emotionally restrained. The soundtrack relies on ambient textures rather than traditional melodies, emphasizing the film’s dreamlike atmosphere.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed in North Carolina, USA, specifically in rural and forested areas. The isolated landscapes play a crucial role in the film’s narrative, reinforcing the feeling of confinement and separation from society. The wide-open yet suffocating environment mirrors the children’s desire for freedom and the father’s obsession with control.
Awards and Nominations
While One and Two didn’t win major mainstream awards, it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and received praise for its cinematography and performances, particularly from Kiernan Shipka and Timothée Chalamet. It also played at various independent film festivals, gaining a modest cult following among fans of atmospheric indie sci-fi.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Director Andrew Droz Palermo was inspired by his own rural upbringing and a fascination with family secrets.
- The teleportation scenes were created using practical effects and clever editing rather than heavy CGI.
- Kiernan Shipka performed many of her own stunts, including sequences involving underwater shots.
- Timothée Chalamet was cast early in his career, and his performance hinted at the emotional depth he would later bring to larger roles.
Inspirations and References
The film draws inspiration from:
- The Valérian and Laureline comic series (in terms of restrained sci-fi aesthetic).
- Terrence Malick’s poetic visual style, especially The Tree of Life.
- Biblical allegory, particularly themes of sin, exile, and the Garden of Eden.
- Classic fairy tales about forbidden places and disobedient children seeking freedom.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no confirmed alternate endings, but early drafts reportedly had Eva dying while trying to escape the wall, turning the story into a darker allegory about human limitation. This was changed to make the ending more ambiguous and open. Some deleted scenes explored Zac’s mental state after his mother’s death but were cut for pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
One and Two is not based on a book, though it carries a literary tone and structure. Its minimalist storytelling and moral undertones make it feel like a modern parable rather than a conventional sci-fi movie.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Eva and Zac playing with their teleportation in secret under the moonlight.
- The mother’s seizure scene, foreshadowing her death.
- Eva’s first successful teleportation beyond the wall.
- The confrontation between Zac and his father in the darkened cellar.
- The final shot of Eva gazing at the open sky.
Iconic Quotes
- Eva: “The world can’t be all bad if it has skies like that.”
- Father: “The wall keeps the world out—and it keeps us safe.”
- Zac: “Maybe what’s outside isn’t the danger. Maybe it’s us.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The recurring use of mirrors and reflections symbolizes the duality of freedom and control.
- The wall represents not only physical separation but emotional and psychological barriers.
- The mother’s illness hints that the children’s powers might be hereditary—passed down but suppressed by fear.
- The number two in the title reflects the dual nature of the siblings, light and dark, faith and rebellion.
Trivia
- The film’s teleportation concept was developed using stop-motion pre-visualization before filming.
- The farmhouse was built entirely for the movie and later dismantled.
- Palermo used mostly natural light, giving the film its soft, ethereal quality.
- The actors were encouraged to improvise dialogue to make the family dynamics feel more authentic.
Why Watch?
Watch One and Two if you love slow-burn science fiction, intimate family dramas, or visual storytelling that values emotion over exposition. It’s a reflective, meditative film about the cost of control, the meaning of freedom, and the strange beauty of growing up different.
Director’s Other Work
- Rich Hill (2014) – Documentary (co-directed, Sundance winner)
- The Green Knight (2021) – Cinematographer (visual collaborator)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Tree of Life (2011)
- Midnight Special (2016)
- The Witch (2015)
- A Ghost Story (2017)
- Leave No Trace (2018)
