Claim: Cloud Atlas has been described as "a sort of pointillist mosaic."

Cloud Atlas is a 2012 German-American science fiction film written and directed by The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer . Adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by David Mitchell , the film has multiple plots set across six different eras , which Mitchell described as `` a sort of pointillist mosaic . '' The official synopsis describes it as `` an exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past , present and future , as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero , and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution . '' Tom Hanks , Halle Berry , and Jim Broadbent lead an ensemble cast .   The film was produced by Grant Hill , Stefan Arndt , the Wachowskis , and Tykwer . During four years of development , the project met difficulties securing financial support ; it was eventually produced with a $ 102 million budget provided by independent sources , making it one of the most expensive independent films of all time . Production began in September 2011 at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam-Babelsberg , Germany .   It premiered on 8 September 2012 at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival and was released on 26 October 2012 in conventional and IMAX cinemas . It polarized critics , and has been included on various Best Film and Worst Film lists . It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for Tykwer -LRB- who co-scored the film -RRB- , Johnny Klimek , and Reinhold Heil . It received several nominations at the Saturn Awards including Best Science Fiction Film , winning for Best Editing and Best Make-up .