Pendant ce temps sur Terre

I just barely found out about Meanwhile on Earth a few hours ago and decided to buy a ticket and go in blind. As unorthodox as this film was, the overall atmosphere is mostly what i expected. That's not to say it was predictable or bad. I just had an inkling this would be way more soft science fiction rather than something crazy and epic. I wasn't fully enthralled by the story, which sometimes felt meandering and lethargic but the visual style for the film deserves all sorts of praise and accolades. My lord, it was beautiful. I also quite enjoyed the relative originality to the story at the very least. It's not a perfect film but it definitely a low key and singular exercise that succeeds on a small scale. I have a feeling that I'll revisit it when it comes to streaming.

B-

Saw this at the Imagine 2024 film festival in Amsterdam. It is not for the SciFi elements that I rank this movie 7 out of 10, but for the human dilemmas posed. Actually, I wanted to rate 8 out of 10, but it takes too long before we reach the core of the matter. It will let people lose interest before the real issues become clear. Not good, storytelling wise.

In essence, it is about how many lives of living humans you don't know you can take, when needed in exchange for the live of one man you know (your brother) and persistently want to get back. It starts easily when someone conspiring to rape our main protagonist Elsa, becomes the first candidate to be sacrificed in the race to obtain 5 living persons to trade for her brother lost in space. (Elsa severely damaged the attempting rapist with a chainsaw, rendering him unusable to host an alien.)

The next 3 are elderly people from the nursing home where Elsa works, most of them demented, so in some way a defendable act as a humane way out. So far so good. However, still three hours from the deadline, Elsa lets a man go who she picked up from the street (pushing a defective motorbike; offering to bring him home). While underway, the man spoke enthusiastically about his plans to open a restaurant, obviously a potentially useful member of society. It is a merciful thing to do, despite the narrow timeline for rescuing her brother...

The only SciFi involved is the sparse communications Elsa has with her brother in space, and with the five aliens around him. And related visuals showing where the brother is now. The brother seems genuine, as he tells a story out of their common past that only they know. The transfer of all five aliens is a prerequisite for bringing her brother back to earth, hence the chase for five humans to sacrifice, to be used as carrier for the aliens.

All in all, the slow burn may annoy some people, in addition to the fact that hardly any SciFi is involved in a story announced about a man lost in space. That raises expectations this movie won't satisfy. It takes some patience and some time, like what happened to me, to find out where it is all about.

Elsa Martens (Megan Northam) is a young adult whose life takes on an unexpected turn after an unknown life form makes contact with her claiming to be able to bring her older brother back after his mysterious disappearance from a space mission.

Writer and director Jérémy Clapin is more interested in human dilemmas than in the usual sci-fi motives. Pendant ce temps sur Terre has a weak beginning where it is not clear where it wants to go but once it gets there its form is already recognizable.

It poses existential questions about what is the value of life and if there is truth in that there are lives worthier than others. Through Elsa, the movie explores purpose and how it can change an individual's worldview. It also gives emotional weight to longing and what constitutes the loss of a loved one.

Its cinematography blends animation with live action creating a differentiated treatment in terms of narrative and dramatic expressiveness. Pendant ce temps sur Terre is one of those movies that has memorable scenes but they are in contrast with the ones where lack of ambition renders them unextraordinary.

This movie is a true journey to one's inner core. It may look small in the beggining, but it uses its characters and context in a beautiful and meaningful way. It is realistic and it pushes the boundaries of the basic sci-fi flick in a very cerebral and receptive way.

The cinematography is noteworthy, capturing both the beauty and the harsh realities of Earth. The use of color and light reinforces the film's themes, creating a visual representation of hope and despair. The performances of the ensemble cast are compelling; each actor brings depth to their roles, effectively conveying the emotional weight of their characters' struggles.

The screenplay is rich with dialogue that challenges viewers to reflect on their own lives and the state of the planet. The film touches on themes of environmentalism, connection, and the passage of time, prompting viewers to consider their place in the larger tapestry of life.

The music was a solid 10/10 for me. It is absolutely epic and it's constantly haunting you in a beautiful way, making you totally dissolve in the atmosphere of the movie.

In the end, for the ones who will get it, we are left with a metaphysical and heart warming message about humanity and the real meaning of the life.

Astronaut Franck Martens disappeared three years ago while on a space mission. His sister, Elsa, still finds it difficult to accept the fact he simply vanished. A Statue has also been erected in Franck's honour.

Then one day Elsa is contacted by an alien, who assures her Franck is alive and safe, but they require five human bodies in order to let him go, unharmed. She is also allowed to speak to him, to confirm he is still alive. Now, Elsa has three days to find five people to lure to a specific spot in the woods where their bodies will be taken over by alien entities. Elsa decides to be selective, but when time runs out, she becomes desperate.

If you're expecting to see aliens here, you won't. We simply hear an alien voice, giving Elsa instructions. Also, don't expect to find space ships here. This is not your conventional alien movie. Very different indeed. The abrupt ending left me craving for more.

The film has many underlying themes. How do you justify four lives for one? How do you choose? 'Meanwhile on Earth' is so much more than an 'alien' movie, but the lack of aliens might disappoint some viewers.