Sacrifice and morality are explored in a lackluster sci-fi thriller

In Meanwhile on Earth (Ce temps sur terre pendant) – a strange sci-fi/maybe horror drama – a woman in her 20s begins listening to her brother who was lost in space years ago, launching her on a dangerous and morally dubious mission to bring him back. Meanwhile on Earth creates a subversive extraterrestrial film with an ambiguous ending, as voices from beyond the grave also begin to speak to Elsa (Megan Northam) and requires her to perform a series of tasks to bring Franck (Sébastien Pouderoux) back. Yet French independent film, for all its unique aspects, resonates strangely in some mainstream Hollywood media.

Meanwhile, on Earth shows some fascinating visuals imbued with sci-fi vibes

Meanwhile on Earth opens with a beautiful scene from inside a space shuttle, with two characters talking in voiceover to establish some facets of the plot. It’s another example of the lasting legacy of 2001: A Space Odyssey – but it’s impressive. After that, the film teases a cartoon sequence invoking old-school sci-fi entertainment, which will be used as a parallel narrative throughout the story. Finally, it establishes the protagonist’s plans as she exists in a defined reality, stagnant in life while suffering with her brother.

A few other visual moments stood out for me: panoramic images of fields and forests reminiscent of Interstellarcomparing the themes of space adventure with the beauty of Earth itself. Some moments, like Elsa going to a party at a friend’s house, are cast in a light that also makes it feel space-related. General, that’s it hints that something otherworldly is happening are ominous and subtle, from neon lighting options to a rotating circle of dust that Elsa observes just before everything changes for her.

Meanwhile, Earth’s profound discourse is hampered by a disturbing rhythm

Meanwhile on Earth delves into a lot of important material: how grief can cause a stagnation in someone’s life, what someone is willing to sacrifice and how they will compromise for a loved one, who is doing what with their lives, and what mercy they deserve. The real space adventure and questions about what’s out there take a backseat. They have some sort of effect on Elsa’s current struggles, but ultimately they’re not the main point. However, Meanwhile on Earth is overwhelmed by some strange rhythm, and abrupt departures for unnecessary subplots.

Right at the beginning, when Elsa begins to understand her means of communicating with an alien collective, the film displays a moment of disturbing body horror that does not match the tone shown so far. A case of attempted sexual assault halfway through the film is also completely shocking and doesn’t feel necessary. These two scenes are arguably the most memorable in the film, when in fact they shouldn’t be, when other moments of dialogue are more important to the story.

Meanwhile, on Earth is another fascinating stop in the evolution of the science fiction genre

Meanwhile on Earth It’s another moment in recent history where I’ve come across a kind of bizarre afterlife of Interstellarexploring themes of discovery of the cosmos and intergalactic communication alongside powerful family and romantic bonds. Strangely, Meanwhile on Earth shares many key plot points with the much more light-hearted young adult novel The stars with great affection by Emily Hamilton, published June 2024. I can only conclude that independent, standalone sci-fi properties are veering into territory that always feels somewhat similar and varies in its effectiveness.

These properties tend to merge space exploration with grounded human experiences. This resulted in some negative reaction towards Interstellar back when the highly researched scientific film’s ultimate solution was unproven love. About that, The Martian It showed the characters’ personal struggles, but still maintained its science. While The stars with great affection It’s more hypothetical, it worked because it understands what kind of book it is. However, Meanwhile on Earth is a strange mix of genres that distracts from its arguments, even if the unresolved ending isn’t really the problem.

All we can assume is that things work out for Elsa when she stops responding to a voice she doesn’t understand. Despite its weaknesses, the film shows the latent feelings of despair and admiration between the characters, played by talented actors. It shows once again how, in a universe too big for a person to really think about their place in it without having an existential crisis, personal relationships and experiences are their truth.

Meanwhile on Earth hits theaters on November 8th. The film is 89 minutes long and is rated R for some violent content and language.