Space Films that Convey the Unfathomable Enormity of Space and Time
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Throughout my life, I have been fascinated by outer space, but have more often than not been disappointed by sci-fi space films. I grew up with Lost in Space and Star Trek. I think the problem is that all of these space franchises (including Star Wars) treat solar systems and galaxies like rest stops along a highway, providing a false sense of things being much closer than they really are. When you consider, for example, how long it took for the Voyager probes to get beyond our solar system, you begin to get an idea of scale.
I consider 2001 to be the greatest space film ever made, and one of the greatest films ever made, period, in any genre. It may hold the distinction of being both the first and last truly great outer space film. I don’t know. But its success for me is that it provides a sense of the unimaginable spatial and temporal distances that define the universe.
So what are some films I love that come close to 2001 in this regard?
Aniara (2018), directed and written by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja.
Moon (2009), directed by Duncan Jones, written by Nathan Parker from a story by Jones.
Interstellar (2014), directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan. This strikes me as a more mainstream take on themes explored in 2001.I’m tempted to add Solaris to the list, but it may not quite fall into the category I’m seeking.
Any gems I should be aware of?
When it comes to the feeling what it means to travel through space I find THE MARTIAN and GRAVITY give a good impression even though they take place in our solar system, one even in earth orbit.
Then there re movies like DARK STAR, ALIEN and SILENT RUNNING which give me a chilling feeling of being lost in space.
To a certain degree THE BLACK HOLE could be counted in as well.Good topic. I’ll ponder this over some red wine next weekend. I want to recommend some off-grid titles, and need to consult my lists. I watch a lot of sci fi.
When it comes to the feeling what it means to Travemünde through space
“Travemünde” is surely some auto correct fun, right? There is only some open sea 😉
Not sure if it fits and it is not “off grid” but I had to think of THE EXPANSE where space travel at least has no lightspeed and such.
“Travemünde” is surely some auto correct fun, right? There is only some open sea
Right. That’s a good one. 😀
When does Moon do that what the topic is about?
I would argue that it fits because of the pacing and sense of isolation.
ALIEN is THE film that does this for me, a film I put on par with 2001. Especially all the vast distances suggested by the mysterious alien spaceship. Sometimes, the distances can only be imagined in our minds; there is only so much the film medium can do. But there’s a whole thread for ALIEN stuff here.
Other films with that ALIEN DNA that sometimes even use other dimensions as a further expansion of space, or are just gorgeous mood pieces, include Danny Boyle’s SUNSHINE, Ivan Engler’s CARGO and Paul W.S. Anderson’s unheralded masterpiece EVENT HORIZON. Or Scott’s own ALIEN prequels, for that matter (PROMETHEUS and ALIEN: COVENANT).
You didn’t put up a separation between arthouse and commercial cinema, and your three suggestions span the gamut. As do the suggestions so far. So all’s fair game, I suppose.
AD ASTRA is a good example, as previously suggested (and now seen by you). It has some of 2001’s DNA in it, and like INTERSTELLAR it’s really a film about a parent and its child (the distances in space become a metaphor for the distance between them), but spices it up with some B-movie like genre elements here and there. If you liked that, be sure also to check out Gray’s brilliant THE LOST CITY OF Z (2016). Nothing to do with space, but similarly existential musings in a jungle environment (at least for a considerable amount of the film).
I love ANIARA. It’s a “minimal” film in that the set design is more like a cruiseship than a spaceship, but it captures the original Harry Martinson poem well, about the dystopian hopelessness of it all. (Btw, the new-ish sitcom AVENUE 5 is sort of another take on this; the collapse of humanity in the face of eternal loss).
Some other commercial films that stress the vastness of space, and the human dilemmas caught in its wake, are Morten Tyldum’s PASSENGERS, Neil Burger’s VOYAGERS, Walter Hill’s SUPERNOVA (somewhat cheesy, though), Sebastián Cordero’s EUROPA REPORT, Anthony Hoffman’s RED PLANET, George Clooney’s THE MIDNIGHT SKY and Wyatt Rockefeller’s SETTLERS.
Sometimes, the focus lies on personal development despite or in face of the vastness, like the aforementioned THE MARTIAN, Brian de Palma’s MISSION TO MARS (although really only the second half), Robert Zemeckis’ CONTACT or – here’s an off-radar gem – William Eubank’s LOVE (2011). Which is more about being stranded than travelling vast distances. Another example is French auteur Claire Denis’ HIGH LIFE, which – like ANIARA – pays little attention to a “spacey” craft (it comes off as an apartment building!), but more about internal ruminations. Although I’m not a big fan of that one myself.
Other recommendations are APPROACHING THE UNKNOWN, THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX (although both comedy and schlock in this), STOWAWAY, RUBIKON, SPACEMAN, PROJECT HAIL MARY (I’m torn on the film myself) and ASH.
You will hate some of these, but that’s the name of the game.
Thanks, Thor! I lean more toward arthouse, but occasionally mainstream commercial films work for me. For example, The Martian had some aspects that resonated, but also some action/adventure cliches that the film didn’t need. Overall, I liked it, though.
That’s good to hear. I had issues with THE MARTIAN the first time I saw it (Scott’s auteur traits were hard to glean), but it grew on me and now I’ve seen it maybe 10 times.
I like that you have an opening for various types of film.
Another example is French auteur Claire Denis’ HIGH LIFE, which – like ANIARA – pays little attention to a “spacey” craft (it comes off as an apartment building!), but more about internal ruminations. Although I’m not a big fan of that one myself.
I quite liked HIGH LIFE. Even though I have an issue in general with Pattinson’s permanent melancholic face expression. Not a fan of that.
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