With The Tree of Life from Terrence Malick, von Trier’s Melancholia, and now Another Earth from first-time Director Mike Cahill, the planets are aligning (and/or colliding) for 2011 to be a year of cosmic enlightenment at the movies. I like how recent films like these and Source Code are using a sci-fi framework to examine philosophical issues. The Sundance synopsis outlines the intriguing premise:
Rhoda Williams, a bright young woman recently accepted into MIT’s astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. John Burroughs, a brilliant composer, has just reached the pinnacle of his profession, and is about to have a second child with his loving wife. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes, and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined. Estranged from the world and the selves they once knew, the two outsiders begin an unlikely love affair, which reawakens them to life. But when one of them is presented with the opportunity to travel to the other Earth and embrace an alternative reality, which new life will they choose?
In this auspicious debut, director/cowriter Mike Cahill offers a taut, superbly conceived science-fiction romance that marks the emergence of the multitalented actor/cowriter Brit Marling. Marrying character with high concept, Another Earth lures audiences to go where no one has gone before.
Poster after the cut.
