In Meanwhile on Earth (Pendant ce temps sur terre) — a strange sci-fi/maybe-horror drama — a woman in her 20s begins hearing her brother who was lost in space years ago, launching her into a dangerous and morally dubious mission to bring him back. Meanwhile on Earth makes for a subversive extraterrestrial movie with an ambiguous ending, as voices from beyond also start speaking to Elsa (Megan Northam) and demand she perform a series of tasks to get Franck (Sébastien Pouderoux) back. Yet the French indie film, for all its unique aspects, oddly resonates with some mainstream Hollywood media.

Director Jérémy Clapin Release Date September 13, 2024 Distributor(s) Metrograph Pictures Writers Jérémy Clapin Cast Megan Northam , Sébastien Pouderoux , Dimitri Doré , Catherine Salée , Sam Louwyck Runtime 89 Minutes Expand

Meanwhile On Earth Showcases Some Fascinating Visuals Steeped In Sci-Fi Vibes

Meanwhile on Earth opens with a beautiful shot of a space shuttle’s interior, with two characters having a voice-over conversation to establish some facets of the plot. It’s another example of the long-enduring legacy of 2001: A Space Odyssey — but it is stunning. After this, the movie dabbles in a cartoon sequence invoking old-school sci-fi entertainment, which will be used as a parallel narrative throughout the story. Finally, it establishes shots of the protagonist as she exists in a definite reality, stagnating in life as she grieves her brother.

Some other visual moments stood out to me: panning shots of fields and forests that recall Interstellar, setting the space adventure themes against the beauty of Earth itself.

Some other visual moments stood out to me: panning shots of fields and forests that recall Interstellar, setting the space adventure themes against 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. Overall, its hints at something out-of-this-world happening are menacing and subtle, from neon lighting choices to a swirling circle of dust that Elsa observes right before everything changes for her.

Meanwhile On Earth’s Profound Discourse Is Hindered By Distracting Pacing

Meanwhile on Earth delves into a lot of weighty material: how grief can cause someone’s life to plateau, 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 actual space adventure and questions about what is out there sit in the background. They have some kind of effect on Elsa’s present struggles but they’re ultimately not the biggest point. However, Meanwhile on Earth is weighed down by some strange pacing, and abrupt departures into unnecessary subplots.

Early on, when Elsa is coming to understand her means of communication with an alien collective, the movie exhibits a moment of disturbing body horror that doesn’t match the tone displayed up until then. An instance of attempted sexual assault about halfway through the movie is also totally jarring and doesn’t seem like it was needed. These two scenes are arguably the most memorable in the movie when they really 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 Sci-Fi Genre

Meanwhile on Earth is another time in recent history where I have come across a kind of bizarre afterlife of Interstellar, exploring themes of discovering the cosmos and intergalactic communication alongside powerful familial and romantic bonds. Oddly, Meanwhile on Earth shares a lot of key plot points with the much more lighthearted young adult romance novelThe Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton, which was published in June 2024. I can only conclude that independent and standalone sci-fi properties are veering into a territory that always feels somewhat similar and varies in how effective they are.

These properties tend to mesh space exploration with grounded human experiences. This resulted in some backlash towards Interstellar back in the day when the highly-researched scientific movie’s ultimate solution was unproven love. Meanwhile, The Martian showed the characters’ personal struggles but still maintained its science. While The Stars Too Fondly is more hypothetical, it worked because it understands what kind of book it is. However, Meanwhile on Earth is an odd blend of genres that distracts from its arguments, even though the unresolved ending isn’t really the problem.

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

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

6/10 Elsa and her family grapple with the disappearance of her astronaut brother, Franck. One night, while stargazing, Elsa receives contact from Franck, but discovers dark forces behind his reappearance. She must confront the lengths she will go to save her brother, whom she feared was lost forever.ProsBeautiful visuals that lean into the advertised genreHeartrending themes and main plot about grief, family, and sacrifice ConsDoesn’t completely understand what genre it isSome subplots are unnecessary and distract from the movie’s better moments