PittsburghThoughts

In 1884 Edwin A. Abbott wrote a short novel called Flatland. He explored a two dimensional universe occupied by Flatlanders. Looking ahead, to the side or the back, Flatlanders could only see a line spread out infinitely in both directions. They could discern the nature of things based on the light passing through them and variations of shadow and light. Triangles were less developed than Squares, Squares less than Pentagons and on and on until beings approached circularity. In Flatland no true circles existed but the circle-like entities were revered.

One day A. Square is visited by a Sphere passing through Flatland. A. Square is taken on a 3 dimensional odyssey, and, looking down at Flatland in awe, he is able to grasp the nature of the 3rd dimension.

Of course, no one listens to his fantastic tale when he returns and his attempts to explain the "third" dimension fall on deaf ears.

The whole story is allegorical based on math and human nature. Edwin A. Abbott was also a keen satirist.

From the below trailer and other trailers that I've watched, I think the movie excludes a very important point made in the book; A. Square, once convinced of the 3rd dimension, where two dimensional insides can be seen, asks the Sphere to take him to the next dimension where even the Sphere's insides can be seen. The Sphere dismisses this notion as impossible and seems impervious the same sort of revelation that he is trying to reveal to A. Square.

This isn't the first movie that has been made about Flatland but it is post-YouTube.