Das letzte Land

...you order a high-tech modern advanced space ship - online, and they send you a used junkyard rust-bucket with 80's analog tech? Ya, me too.

This is amateur writer, director, producer, editor, cinematographer, sound, set designer, composer, S&VFX (whew) Marcel Barion's first main film project. It's a heck of a risk to wear pretty much every filmmaking hat, and not flop, especially by a new filmmaker. But I have to say, he was very close to pulling it off.

I joked about the old tech clunker spaceship set, but in reality, it was awesome. I'm sure he had a limited budget for this indie film, but somehow he made it work, and I felt I knew every part of that ship. The cinematography, S&VFX were absolutely stunning and perfection... better than some seasoned filmmakers movies I've seen lately. The score was also perfect, especially for a B grade film, where they are usually loud, overbearing and unfitting. The two cast members gave decent performances.

BUT, where this film drastically failed, was in the long dragged out and convoluted story (especially the lame ending), the slow pacing that made the already too-long 113 min runtime feel like 3+ hours, and the constant long camera shots that felt like someone paused the film. I think Barion must've misplaced his editor's hat, because this film needed at least 30-45 mins cut out to make the story and pacing bearable. The story started off well, but once they were flying, the conversations were just dumb and insignificant. It's like a 5th grader wrote the dialogue, and got bored towards the ending. The story never really switched gears until the last 10 minutes. So basically, take the first and last 15-20 mins, get rid of the useless middle filler, and this would've been a great short film.

What's really sad, is that all Barion had to do, is have his screenplay proofread and edited by a seasoned writer, and everything would've fallen into place, and this film would've been outstanding. Nevertheless, still an impressive production by an amateur filmmaker that put this entire film together by himself. Sadly, it's only a 6/10, but could've easily been at least an 8 or more. Hopefully Barion will learn from this for his next project. Still, bravo for his first attempt.

Do you like big explosions? Do you like GOOD vs EVIL? Do you like women in tight uniforms in space? Do you like fast, "exciting" plots? Do you like heartwarming interactions? Do you like everything resolved and satisfying conclusions? Do you like every single question and ambiguity answered and clarified?

Then skip this movie. Don't even look at its trailer.

However, if you like films like Tarkovsky makes, or films that are highly ambiguous, or films that leave you puzzled. Then watch this.

No. It's no "Solaris". But it's a good indie European film that thankfully doesn't explain every single thing, sucking all the mystery and interest out of the script, leaving a bland, predictable husk.

As for the negative reviews you'd see here, well, I sincerely wonder if science fiction might be held back from attaining its artistic potential because of the audience that's drawn to it. Lynch's "Dune" was widely despised. Though I am amazed that Kubrick's "2001" is well beloved, as that's filled with unanswered questions, "slow boring sequences" and such. Though it does have "the evil entity", which probably helps people navigate it.

Anyway. I liked this movie. I wish more sci-fi was like it, and less was like Disney.

Science Fiction movies with a low budget and practical effects are a hard sell. Especiall when they took almost a decade overall to complete. And even more so when whoever releases the movie compares it to Alien and Kubricks 2001. That is quite bold to say the least.

On the other hand some may feel there is merit to that. I personally did not feel many connections to said movies. Apart from them all being in outer space (not on Earth) and in the Science Fiction genre. Well and maybe having a bit of mystery attached to them. But don't expect anything as close as bloody as Alien or as close as philosophical and life altering as 2001.

Having said that, the movie is well done and you mostly should not notice the small (crowdfunded) budget this was made on. I was lucky enough to catch it on a big screen, but most will stream it - fairly certain of that. They probably will be distracted by other things (has happened to me too) - especially in the slower moments ... and there are lots of them.

I sped it up to 2x speed, which solved the slowness. The story was good. It reminds me of Moon and other bleak hard SF films that show the loneliness of space and the human condition. If mankind ever does get into space, this is probably what awaits us: unliveable planets, isolation, fear, loneliness, a longing for a home world, difficult comrades, failing technology. Don't watch this if you need cheering up or laughs. But if you like dark or hard SF with ambiguity and deeper themes, it's good. The original is German but I managed to find an English dubbed version.

Feels more like a surreal theatre play by Beckett than like the scifi action b-movie you maybe expect. It's dark, it's an entertaining arthouse drama (which is a rare combination), it looks cool (reminded me a lot of "Alien") and it's acted pretty well.

It also has something to say. I just don't know what, yet. But I'll watch it again. Definitely.

Wait, they constructed all the sets and the miniatures in their garage??? Consider my mind blown. 😍