A naturalistic French film about an astronaut who must deal with the anxiety of being separated from her daughter as she's about to go to the ISS for one year. This movie is NOT an action movie, and not sci-fi in any way. What it is is a wonderful character study on the demands of parenthood in the context of a high-pressure career. The acting is understated yet powerful, the astronaut stuff feels super-realistic, and Eva Green is amazing in every scene she's in.
It is a decent film, neither extraordinary nor terrible. It is an interesting psychological film that basically focuses on the familial, personal, and mental pressures surrounding a female astronaut in the weeks and months prior to her rocket launch. There is no action, at least in the traditional sense. But, there is the thematic drama that heightens the tension and helps to keep the film interesting.
But, I do have to admit that the film can become slow, albeit not because of the acting, which was incredible, but more so the pacing. In essence, since the film documents the period of time before the rocket launch, it becomes tedious to watch the film at times. However, the strong performances from the acting cast, the great cinematography, and the satisfying conclusion help to justify the film's runtime. I was struggling between giving this film a 7 or an 8, but I ultimately gave it a 7 because it has some flaws, but it is an introspective film to watch overall.
The movie is almost two hours of Eva Green training to be an astronaut. Within the thin plot is a family drama between Eva's character and her daughter, Stella. This is what's called a character study. If you're not on board with that, look elsewhere. Proxima is driven by the acting, and the emotion. Honestly, I could watch Eva do anything. Is she nude in this? You're damn right.
Don't go into this hoping for a space adventure. If anything, this is a prequel to that movie. Oh, and unless you speak several languages, you will be reading subtitles through 90% of this.
So, yeah, Proxima is a simple story, but it is told well, and I was never bored. I think this will hit differently if you are a mother.
An emotive family drama that will disappoint those hoping for sci-fi bombast
Written by Alice Winocour and Jean-Stéphane Bron, and directed by Winocour, Proxima is the story of a mother and daughter trying to cope with impending separation. The fact that the mother is an astronaut and that the separation will result from a year-long mission to Mars is very much secondary. Instead, we're presented with something more universal and relatable – the often contradictory responsibilities one has to one's profession and one's family. At the same time, this (unapologetically feminist) film looks at the demands placed on a woman in a male dominated field where machoism counts for something. Proxima is a quiet story that maps in great detail the sheer force of will it takes to get into the condition necessary to go space. And although the narrative does sag in a couple of places, and Winocour frustratingly abandons realism in a crucial scene towards the end, Proxima is brilliantly acted throughout. It certainly won't appeal to those looking for the grandiosity or existentialism of classic sci-fi, but it remains a moving examination of motherhood.
For my complete review, please visit: https://boxd.it/11m1kn
Don’t come to this expecting sci if thrills and big budget special effects. Rather, it is an emotional drama about the bond between a mother and daughter and the impending realisation that they will have to live apart. Quite slow at times but still worth watching.
This movie is 100 % drama, there is not a hint of action to it. And for sure not sci-fi. Well maybe and the end it was a huge bit of ficiton because there is no way I believe that stunt of her would have gone unnoticed.
I really like Eva but I wonder why she always picks such bland scripts. The movie is uneventful, not exciting and not engaging. And what's the message ? You can be a good astronaut or you can be a good mother but you can't be both ? Gosh, I wonder how the real ones did it. If it weas supposed to be an homage for women astronauts I'd call it a failure in that regard.
Be prepared to read a lot of subtitles, this movie is mostly French but also part English, Russian and a wee bit German.
In summary I think this is a movie you can skip. It doesn't show much about the preparation of astronauts and the drama between mother and daughter has been done in other movies before. It's just here the canvas is different.
Shout by Saint PaulyBlockedParent2019-11-28T22:14:34Z
This (science fiction) family drama is a slow burn with no burn. It's like reheating leftovers in the oven but not turning the heat on high enough even if you leave it in for two hours.
Proxima is the story of an astronaut who's also a mother and thus must also deal with female / maternal issues as she trains for a mission to Mars. I'm probably alone in this, but I left the cinema feeling the director wanted me to think being a mother makes a woman less qualified and too sensitive to be a good astronaut. This take-away made me very uncomfortable, despite the sideshow of actual women astronauts with their children that's shown during the credits.