Perfect Sense
"Without love there is nothing"
Set in Glasgow, Perfect Sense follows a growing romance between Susan, a gifted epidemiologist, and Michael, a talented chef, as a strange illness spreads beyond borders. Susan studies how the outbreak unfolds and tests vaccines while Michael crafts meals that anchor ordinary life. As the world... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: January 20, 2026
About Perfect Sense
Set in Glasgow, Perfect Sense follows a growing romance between Susan, a gifted epidemiologist, and Michael, a talented chef, as a strange illness spreads beyond borders. Susan studies how the outbreak unfolds and tests vaccines while Michael crafts meals that anchor ordinary life. As the world wakes to a mysterious pandemic that gradually erodes the senses, their bond deepens and they try to hold onto normal pleasures. The film tracks their relationship through seasons of escalating crisis, balancing intimate moments with the wider emergency that presses governments and communities into action. The story reframes love as a parallel experiment in adaptation, trust, and resilience against an unseen threat, without revealing where it ends. It leans on quiet rituals and shared meals to illustrate how tenderness persists even as uncertainty grows.
David Mackenzie directs this intimate drama from an original screenplay by Kim Fupz Aakeson. Released in 2011, Perfect Sense pairs Ewan McGregor and Eva Green in a quiet, character driven study of love under crisis. The film's visual palette emphasizes gray Glasgow skies and close, intimate spaces.
Critics noted the film's unusual blend of romance and science fiction, appreciating its restrained mood and actors' chemistry. The story probes how affection changes when danger alters ordinary life, asking whether closeness survives when the world feels unsettled and loss becomes part of daily routine.
While not a blockbuster, the movie sparked discussions about how love and humanity endure during public health emergencies. Its delicate visuals and patient pacing have been cited by some as a precursor to how sensational thrillers can address intimate stakes without spectacle.
No major awards or nominations are noted for Perfect Sense. The film did gain attention for the performances of McGregor and Green, and for its bold pairing of a romance with a global crisis, but it did not collect prominent accolades.
Details
- Release Date
- September 29, 2011
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Rating
- R
- User Ratings
- 1,213 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Drama, Science Fiction, Romance
- Country
- Germany
- Studio
- BBC Film +4 more
- Box Office
- $138,868
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Ewan McGregor
Michael
Eva Green
Susan
Ewen Bremner
James
Stephen Dillane
Stephen
Denis Lawson
Boss
Anamaria Marinca
Street Performer
Alastair Mackenzie
Virologist
Connie Nielsen
Jenny
Lauren Tempany
Girl in Bed
Shabana Akhtar Bakhsh
Nurse
Director: David Mackenzie
Written by: Kim Fupz Aakeson