One of those damn films that linger on your mental palate. I saw the ship as basically Red Dwarf mixed with Silent Running. Depressing but oddly uplifting about the resilience of people to adapt. Visceral introspection and kitchen-sink drama exploded into sci-fi parable. I am sure Beckett also fits in here somewhere. The lesbian relationship is handled touchingly, and the retreat into religiosity, alcoholism or denialism interesting.
I’m actually lost for words on how to describe this film...
It’s dark and depressing, but yet compelling to watch.
Well made with a good cast and a somewhat dark realistic viewpoint of what may happen under these circumstances.
It's a good movie, it just has that kind of ending that frustrates me and makes me feel disappointed and sad. Endings like this leave me feeling like I wasted my time caring about the people. The more I think about it afterwards the more problems I notice. Why were they unable to contact anyone from mars or earth at any point. Why is there no backup power for the engines. Why did the engines turn from hitting debris. How are they getting more water. why don't they direct power from all the extremely unnecessary entertainment to steering the ship. Why would earth send something unusable to the ship. If it wasn't for the ship why would they send it on the same course as the ship.
what a disappointment.
an intriguing premise watered down by a bland execution and a waste of interesting characters. the mima idea was fantastic but squandered, as was the relationship between the mimaroben and isagel. amazing chemistry but very little development or depth. when will screenwriters stop saddling lesbian relationships with babies as replacement for actual intimacy and relationship development. lazy as fuck. also the baby? you’re joking. they’re in a floating coffin and this is what they do? when isagel screamed ‘i don’t want this’ she was CORRECT. #abortthatthang
This was an interesting movie. It was very well done visually. But also people get into some weird stuff when trapped on a ship for years.
This is not sci-fi exactly it is heavy duty drama.The space theme is only play pretend for ethical dellimas that society had surpased.
Not to mention the special agenta that was promoted again.
The poem is a masterpiece of esoteric science-fiction literature; and this is an unexpectedly impressive adaptation with a chilling dénouement
An adaptation of the poem of the same name, Aniara is the debut feature film from writers/directors Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, and is an exceptionally ambitious film that is also exceptionally well made. With its measured pacing, existential musings, limited cast of characters, open-ended narrative, and stylised visual design, it's about as far from multiplex fare as you can get. And yes, the characters are a little underdeveloped, with only a couple getting much of an arc, and yes, the science isn't exactly kosher, but irrespective of that, this is a provocative, morally complex, and existentially challenging film that I thoroughly enjoyed, from its low-key opening to its chillingly effective dénouement.
For my complete review, please visit: https://boxd.it/OmJTJ
This film had a little too much on its mind, AI ethics, aliens maybe, questionable leadership, but would anyone stand up to them, scientists held down by military-types, more, much more. All of that may have been compelling if there were a unifying theme or event, anything to bring things together, but the movie just ended. I think we were supposed to read into that, "Sometimes, life isn't wrapped up into a tidy little package. Life is messy and has loose ends." Maybe? I don't know anyone who isn't aware of that and it doesn't make for great storytelling.
The pattern in which every virtuous person, every scientist and technician, is a woman and every asshole, every commander, is a man... Maybe we could mix that up a bit?
Review by DeletedBlockedParent2020-09-22T11:06:41Z
For a Swedish film without a Hollywood budget, particularly science-fiction, you must admire the special effects and future-look presented. Presumably a luxury craft transporting people to a new life would look spic and span with clean lines more like some giant shopping mall geared to luxury for people who were heading into an unknown and Martian life. The technology of Mima is slightly mysterious throughout and presumably it some type of organic-based machine that can interact with the human brain but that is left to the viewer and this really is not a problem story-wise.
The acting, as far as I can tell, is good throughout and no hint of the histrionics we are are usually treated to in this type of film, especially when ‘disaster’ strikes the control room is quiet calm and trying to figure out what to do. Taking notes Ron ‘shouty arm-waving’ Howard? It was refreshing to see there was a tough situation being faced in the ship’s control room without shouting, screaming and foot stamping. Like real life. Clearly the dialogue is in Swedish and I, being the dumb-arsed British person I am can hardly speak English, so I have no idea if the actors were delivering corny lines and overacting but their body language and general demeanour would say not, so I’m going with that view.
Apparently, the film is based entirely on well-known Swedish poem written in 1956 at a time when some people believed we would not even get to the moon let alone protracted space travel or ‘emigration’ to a new world. So it comes as some surprise that a film based on this premise made in 2018 still features conceits in that work. Would the people in charge be fully aware of space debris and plan around that before risking thousands of people’s lives? Would what appeared to be an Allen bolt cause that much damage? Jet passenger planes have three back-ups for every system but a massive passenger-carrying space craft does not? How would they survive on algae and where does the water come from? All these questions and others will be answered by someone with more time on their hands and who is more worried about it than me. To fair to Aniara you can do this with every futuristic type story and corners are often cut for expedience and other eminently sensible and budgetary reasons.
What Aniara tries to be about is the human condition and much deeper themes than adventures in space. Take civilised people away from their world, put them in another world that is limited and self-contained. Take away their hope and what happens? Lord of the Flies meets Alien – or something. The entire story is anchored on Jonsson's Mimaroben and it is to her credit that this anchor is strong and firm and keeps you watching. The supporting cast are all strong and believable with no real heroes or villains although Arvin Kananian as the captain Chefone is a near as you get to this but even his character is placed in a very difficult situation and he never goes full on Sir Jasper Naughtybonce.
It would spoil the story to tell you how it progresses but it is no surprise to say that overall the feeling is bleak and downbeat and holds no great faith in human’s nature over the course of the situation. Being Swedish if you are offended by full-frontal nudity, male and female, lesbian sex, orgies, and the odd willy bonging about in your face this is not the science fiction for you.
Existential, challenging, depressing, mesmerising and infuriating Aniara is certainly not your ordinary science-fiction story, in a way you could say it is very Swedish and whilst I can see why some people would find it dull and lacking in peril or action, why does it have to be I may ask, it strikes me as a film that if you watch it to the conclusion you will not forget it in a hurry.
Right who is up for starting an orgy club? No one? Okay off to Sweden I go.