MEANWHILE ON EARTH

(director/writer: Jeremy Clapin; cinematographer: Robrecht Heyvaert; editor: Jean-Christophe Bouzy; music: Dan Levy; cast: Catherine Salee (Annick Martene), Sofia Lesaffre (Audrey), Megan Northam (Elsa Martens), Sebastien Pouderoux (Franck Martens-voice), Sam Louwyck (Daniel Martens), Roman Williams (Vincent Martens), Dimitri Dore (voice of entity); Runtime: 89; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Marc Du Pontavice; Metrograph Pictures/One World Films; 2024-France/Belgium-in French with English subtitles)

“So-so astronaut film.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A convoluted and downbeat astronaut movie by French filmmaker Jeremy Clapin (“I Lost My Body”/”Skhizein”), known in the trade for being a capable animator.

Elsa (Megan Northam) is a young nurse in France working in a hospital for the elderly with dementia. Years earlier her astronaut brother Franck (Sebastien Pouderoux) disappeared during a space mission, and her family is still coping with his loss. The roundabout in town has a statue of Franck in his astronaut uniform, which is both and honor for them and a painful reminder of their loss.

One night her missing brother contacts Elsa from the other world, saying into an antennae that he is alive and can be brought back to Earth if she acts quickly on his instructions. But he’s cut off, as she then receives instructions from an entity (voiced by Dimitri Dore). All Elsa needs to do to see her brother again is to help the alien invade Earth, an invasion in which he assures her will be a harmless one. But Elsa is unsure if she should act on the alien’s unethical instructions.

Northam’s performance is sincere, the visuals are excellent and the special effects are decent. But the blend of drama, psychological thriller and sci-fiction can’t bring the film to fruition. It becomes just another so-so astronaut film that gets bent out of shape with an unconvincing twist.

It played at the Berlin Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 11/16/2024  GRADE: C+
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