A New Kind of Sci-fi?

As fairly interseted –and yes you may say it, nerdy-  sci-fi fan, it has been brought to my attention that in the last couple of years the genre has shown change. That change is bringing us extremely interesting films with many new elements that I’m personally loving.

It’s seems as though filmmakers are trying to mesh really ordinary characters and dramatic situations with science fiction elements. This trend is creating really interesting stories with really profound messages that make us question the core of our own humanity. And don’t get me wrong, I still love space operas and alien invasions, but these movies are making me wonder if we ran out of explanations to who and what we are.

I’ll list here some movies that better exemplify what I’m trying to say. 

1.  Melancholia:

This film, directed by the controversial Lars Von Trier, opened in 2011 in Cannes. After some dodgy comments in a press conference, he was banned from the festival. Lars comments not withstanding, the movie got a great reception. Kirsten Dunst took the award for best actress and Charlotte Geinsburg was praised for her performance.

The story centers around two sisters –played by Dunst and Geinsburg— that are very different from each other. The movie starts with a wedding and evolves until a cataclysmic event ends the world. Consistent with Von Trier style, the characters are deeply flawed and forced to face death in a very unique situation. After Antichrist, Von Trier returns to use metaphors for depression with this movie and it is done beautifully. Filled with stunning visuals, Melancholia is the perfect example of a different kind of science fiction, which in this case, is irrelevant to what the film is trying to say.

     2.  Another Earth:

This indie film premiered in Sundance Film Festival in 2011. It was produced with the very small budget of $200,000 and written by Mike Cahill, director of the film and Brit Marling, star of the film. This film gives hope to all of those who are writing great sci-fi screenplays but don’t have huge amounts of money to produce them.

The story centers on Rhoda, a brilliant 17 year-old girl who is in love with astronomy. One day, while celebrating her acceptance into MIT, she gets drunk and gets distracted by the radio talking of a planet that resembles Earth had been discovered. As she gazes into the sky, Rhoda accidentally drives into a family’s car, killing the mother and the son. After she gets out of jail four years later, she enters a contest to win a ticket to what now has been named Earth 2, after it was discovered the planet was a mirror of our own Earth. At the same time, she seeks redemption by trying to help the survivor of the car crash.

With brilliant acting, and a really interesting approach to the action-reaction dynamic, Another Earth dips into fantasy making real what we all have wondered sometime: What if I had done things differently?

    3.  Never Let Me Go:

Originally a book by Kazuo Ishiguro. this 2010 movie seeks to remind humanity of the responsibilities we have to that which we create. The movie follows the life of Kathy H – played by Carey Mulligan – from the moment she realizes she exists, until she understands her destiny and the purpose for which she was created. It is a soul-searching movie in which the characters don’t have the freedom to explore, making the outcome emotionally tragic.

This story makes science fiction integral to the plot in a very subtle way and it is almost imperceptible, in spite of it’s importance. Full of darkness, it reminds the audience that you only live once. The cast is completed with wonderful performances by Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley.

     4.    Perfect Sense:

What would happen if, gradually, we started losing each sense? This is the premise of the Perfect Sense, a more extreme example of what sci-fi is looking like these days. It’s obvious, big and in your face. It is also a love story between two complicated human beings that have to adapt while trying to stay together.

The interesting thing about this movie is that it treats common issues in unconventional ways. It is a great metaphor for aging and the frailty of being human and how it affects the way we relate to other people. Even though the movie has a great premise, it falls short in some aspects. Particularly so in the character development department, specially with Susan – played by Eva Green – who feels flat and lacks the depth that was needed for her chracter. Ewan McGregor completes the duo in this film directed by David McKenzie.

So, this is the mini list of movies that are, in my opinion, innovating in the sci-fi arena. Hit the comment section and tell me what other sci-fi movies I might have missed.