Meanwhile On Earth, 2024.
Written and Directed by Jérémy Clapin
Starring Megan Northam, Dimitri Doré, Sébastien Pouderoux, Catherine Salée, Sam Louwyck
SYNOPSIS:
Elsa is struggling following the disappearance of her brother Franck, an astronaut who vanished during his first mission. While stargazing one night, Elsa is shocked to receive contact from Franck, but her joy is short-lived when she learns of the dark and troubling forces behind Franck’s reappearance, forcing her to confront the lengths she will go for the brother she once feared was gone forever.
A dreamlike and inspiring quest to the outer edges of consciousness and the motivations of love, family and creativity, Meanwhile On Earth is a unique cinematic experience. Expertly crafted by Jérémy Clapin (I Lost My Body), the film is a searing rumination of grief and the lasting impact of painful events on individuals. The film is beautifully put together and serves as an intense reminder of the vast expanse of both outer space, as well as the private inner world of the individual.
The artistic landscape of this film is set out near the start with a fantastic anime style introduction to Elsa (Megan Northam) and her missing astronaut brother Franck. This work, echoing Elsa’s creative exploits as a graphic novelist, is brilliantly placed within the plot. Elsa also works at a nursing home run by her mother, and her loneliness without her brother nearby is effectively brought out.
Franck has not been heard from in three years. The siblings were close, and a psychic bond between the pair is underlined from the off. This bond is given extra impetus by a mysterious seed that allows communication with Franck and the aliens that are keeping him captive. It turns out the aliens want to get to Earth, but to do so, they need hosts. If Elsa can find five hosts for the aliens, they will set Franck free.
This Devil’s bargain is at the heart of the film and is also something of a problem for the hold of the script. Would malevolent aliens really need the assistance of a bored human to find them suitable bodies? Why are they bothering with all the mysterious communication when they could be more direct?
The science fiction story thread then is a bit whimsical and doesn’t always work. What does however is the mournful tone and strong visuals of the film. As well as the excellent French anime that helps to denote Elsa’s feelings and dreams, there is also a colourful look and feel to the action sequences.
Lovers of genre-defying sci-fi will also appreciate the film’s branching into crime and horror territory. Two touchstones to my mind are Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin and Ben Wheatley’s Kill List. The whole take on humans acting to the demands of otherworldly forces also brings to mind The Hidden (1987) and other alien possession movies.
Much of the film’s success is also down to the performance of Megan Northam in the role of Elsa. Her frailty in the midst of life-changing grief oscillates with an intense drive to discover what happened to her brother. The sense that she would sacrifice anything to be reunited with him is only remotely believable thanks to Northam’s finely attuned showing.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert W Monk
