Soulmate (2021): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2021, Soulmate is a thriller and science fiction film directed by Nik Kacevski, running about 16 minutes. “Set in the near future, a thirteen-year-old girl plays a deadly game of cat and mouse in a world where overpopulation has caused for a desperate law that forces citizens to kill their designa” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Thirteen-year-old Mila Malinov wakes up alone in the back of a cab. Arriving at the densely packed apartment block of zone 21, she makes her way to her room as the watchful eye of the global government hovers above in the form of monitor drones. Across the courtyard, another set of eyes watches her, a protective Mother. Her room is small, cubed, and very simplistic. In her ear, a voice keeps her company. Her father, Darko Malinov checks in. He speaks to her through an earpiece making sure she’s okay. The next day, Mila visits the local bartering station that’s at the end of the long alley that hugs her apartment block. Currency in this world has resorted back to bartering, swapping items for other items. Mila finds a group of interested buyers and swaps a capacitor for some food, all while her father guides her. That night, she shares a meal with her father via voice, wishing that he was there instead. As Mila sleeps, a figure sneaks up to her door making Mila nervous.

Who’s in it. Soulmate stars Holly May Lewis as Mila Malinov, Stefania Kocheva as Protective Mother, Martin Paunov as Sunn and Stefo Nantsou as Darko Malinov (voice), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Soulmate has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Soulmate page.

If you liked it. Fans of Soulmate tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.