Synopsis
The Midnight Sky, released on Netflix in 2020 and directed by George Clooney, is a post apocalyptic sci-fi film that tells a story of survival and self reflection on human nature’s perseverance and the themes of regret and redemption. It stars George Clooney as Professor Augustine Lofthouse, “an astronomer who becomes terminally ill and is faced with a worldwide humanitarian crisis”. It also features David Oyelowo, Felicity Jones, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir, and Tiffany Boone. The film is based on the book Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton.
In the film, a devastating pandemic leads to mass destruction on a global scale, creating widespread suffering. After spending much of his life in an Arctic observatory, Professor Lofthouse discovers that his terminal illness has progressed to a stage that qualifies for sanctuary colonization. Best described as a ‘dying star’, he reluctantly decides to quarantine himself in an observatory with the world’s last remaining spacecraft in hopes to steer clear from humanity’s chaos.
In need of an escape, the Aether spacecraft now run by Commander Adewole and crew set out with the hope of colonizing K-23, a moon of Jupiter. After wandering uncharted territory in space, they come across Professor Lofthouse aboard their runaway spaceship and promptly take him on board, unaware of the Earth’s disastrous pandemic.
While attempting to establish contact with the Aether, Augustine encounters a young girl named Iris (Caoilinn Springall) who, as it turns out, has been left behind during the evacuation. At first, she remains silent, but gradually, Iris becomes a pivotal emotional figure for Augustine, representing both his past and humanity’s fragile hope for the future.
Due to the observatory’s failure to maintain proper communication, Iris and Augustine must traverse the tundra to reach a weather station. In the unforgiving Arctic wasteland, extreme cold, hunger, and physical decline work against them, slowly stripping Iris and Augustine of their will to fight. For Augustine, reaching the weather station is equally critical to his survival as it is to redeem himself for his past mistakes, including choosing scientific pursuit over meaningful relationships.
In parallel to Augustine’s expedition, the crew of the Aether have their own difficulties to contend with. While they attempt to start their return journey from K-23, they run into debris from Earth’s weakening orbit, which disables their communication systems, leaving them oblivious to current happenings on Earth. As repairs are conducted and spacewalks are undertaken, tragedy interrupts in a way which further adds to the mounting emotional and physical burden for the crew.
In the end, Augustine manages to establish communication with the Aether. He explains to Sully and Adewole that Earth has become uninhabitable and biological life deemed impossible sustaining on Earth. Therefore, they would need to go back to K-23 where life might still be possible. During the last conversations, it is implied that Sully is his daughter and a result of a relationship he once left behind while chasing his scientific ambitions which now, in his final moments, he deeply regrets.
Sully and Adewole decide to head towards K-23 making them the last hope of light for humanity. While embracing his final moments, alongside completing his mission, Augustine finds solace from the torment of Iris all those years being a hallucination or a manifestation of young Sully. Even though Earth’s future remains dark and gloomy, hope still twinkles in a new beginning amongst the stars.
Cast & Crew
George Clooney as Augustine Lofthouse
Clooney, who directed and produced the film, plays the aging scientist with quiet dignity and emotional restraint. As Augustine, George Clooney shows us without words the burden of knowledge that Augustine carries; he suffered his whole life.
Felicity Jones as Sully
As Sully, Jones depicts a character that balances resolution with a gentle warmth that deeply contrasts with Augustine’s solitude. Notably, her pregnancy in real life was woven into the narrative, highlighting her character’s role as a crucial figure in a mother’s shape in aiding humanity’s continuation.
David Oyelowo as Commander Adewole
Oyelowo’s portrayal of the mission commander showcases a measured and calm character who upholds rational and moral authority during moments of intense pressure.
Kyle Chandler as Mitchell
Chandler’s character is stuck on Earth, emotionally tethered to the place and grappling with the ethical dilemma of never having the chance to see his family again.
Demián Bichir as Sanchez and Tiffany Boone as Maya
Both portrayals are emotionally vivid. Their artistry works to animate the sense of bond and friendship that are expected with those aboard the Aether. Maya’s character adds tragedy to the telling by dying during a spacewalk.
Caoilinn Springall as Iris
Iris does not speak, but her character is fundamental to the film’s plot. Springall’s nonverbal acting not only anchors emotionally, but grounds the film in these moments with Clooney.
Director: George Clooney
Clooney has previously directed The Ides of March and Good Night, and Good Luck, and with The Midnight Sky, he ventures into large-scale sci-fi for the first time – in combination with an existential drama portion, making this his most ambitious directorial project.
Screenwriter: Mark L. Smith
As a co-writer of The Revenant, Smith leverages Brooks-Dalton’s novel with mood and character contemplation in place of traditional sci-fi flash.
Cinematography: Martin Ruhe
The film’s visuals are gorgeous, especially in Arctic subzero environments juxtaposed against the spacecraft’s sleek interiors. Ruhe’s cinematography accentuates a meditative atmosphere.
Music: Alexandre Desplat
As always, Desplat’s score is haunting and melancholic; in this case, it reinforces the emotional undertones of solitude, yearning, and hope.
Midnight Sky: Recepeption and Ratings
The Midnight Sky has a rating of 5.6/10 on IMDb which suggests that reviews of the film were mixed. While a portion of viewers found the film beautiful and satisfying on an emotional level, others found the film boring due to its slow pace and vague plot.
Another consensus among the critics was that the production design and the cinematography were quite good, particularly the zero-gravity shots and the barren views of the Arctic. Though some viewers appreciated Clooney’s ambition in directing the film, others were perplexed at the lack of consistent tone with a collision of personal drama and cosmic spectacle.
Recognition went to the environmental considerations and the human ability to endure quietly, but the film’s overall execution left room for improvement. Critics found Iris’s twist both poignant and somewhat predictable.
Nonetheless, the film connected emotionally with audiences, especially during the height of COVID-19 when concepts of survival and isolation were particularly prominent.
The Midnight Sky addresses profound themes, including:
Isolation and Redemption: Engaging with humanity’s need for relationships is inescapable, and therefore should be confronted; this is the meditation on sacrifice’s consequences that colors Augustine’s lonely journey.
Environmental Collapse: The film reflects vague anxieties about climate change and its impact on Earth.
Parenthood and Legacy: Exalts the story to one of personal and global redemption is the suggested father-daughter bond of Augustine and Sully.
Hope Through Exploration: The Earth’s demise parallels the film’s conclusion, which, contrary to expectation, feels renewed, encapsulated by Sully’s expected child and her decision to go back to K-23.
Conclusion
The Midnight Sky delivers a reflective and visually stunning piece of science fiction cinema. Unlike most films in the genre, this one opts for a slower pace, having minimal action which makes it a unique watch. However, the film asks fundamental questions concerning the future of mankind, the costs of solitude, and the power of connection.
The Midnight Sky further cements the idea that emotion in film is equally as important as visual aesthetics. The breathtaking visuals along with the strong and compelling performances serve to elevate the science fiction genre as a whole. This story serves not only as a means to depict the end of the world, but as submission of the hope for peace to the future generation.
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