Another Earth (2011)

Another Earth (2011)

Genre: Drama • Sci-Fi
Director: Mike Cahill
Starring: Brit Marling, William Mapother
Language: English
Duration: 92 min.
Rating: 6.1  

Summary:

Rhoda Williams, a bright young woman accepted into MIT's astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. A brilliant composer, John Burroughs, has just reached the pinnacle of his profession and is about to have a second child.  On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined.

Another Earth is a film directed by Mike Cahill and co-written by Brit Marling who also stars in the main role.  It premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival winning the Alfred P. Sloan Prize for "its original use of subtly rendered scientific concept".

Sci-Fi scenarios used to tell basic human stories without the usual accompanying galactic spectacle seem to be a growing trend lately.  This film uses the sudden appearance in the sky of a mirrored planet Earth as a backdrop to a story of guilt and redemption for a young woman played by Brit Marling.

It's a simple and pared down tale, but it is based on a very far fetched idea, not only the sci-fi elements but the main characters and their actions as well who seem to dwell in a fantasy universe that exists only in the creators' minds.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they don't even try to make it believable, and it is hard to follow along when you are scoffing at all the ridiculous plot turns and character decisions made.

The acting from Marling is very good however, and discounting the silly writing this should serve as a launching point for a successful acting career.  Also there is a very cool musical scene with a hand saw played with a bow, but otherwise not a particularly noteworthy experience.  It's a shame because this is a premise that has a much greater potential.

— Bonjour Tristesse