Another Earth

I loved this movie. Science fiction purists will hate it. If you’re the sort of person who wants to see tidal destruction and intricately plausible explanations of the impossible (with explosions), this movie’s not for you. It is a given that there is a mirror Earth. You see it over and over in the sky. But the main character, Rhoda, isn’t a scientist; she only wanted to be one, was destined for MIT until she fucked up, went to prison, and is cleaning bathrooms. It’s her story, her attempt to redeem herself that makes this such a beautiful film. I can’t remember the last time I’ve rooted so hard for a character. Though the science is mostly ignored, the film still captures, it seems to me, the importance another world, another other would be to us, much more profoundly than the usual “harder” sci-fi fare.  Mike Cahill and Brit Marling’s script is remarkable, and I won’t spoil its surprises.   Marling’s Rhoda, however, is the film’s treasure.  See it while you can, its run seems to be limited.

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