Proxima - Die Astronautin

A film about a journey into space, in which the characters have to overcome the greatest distance while still on Earth, where they are separated by, for example, only thick glass. Whereas Gravity with Sandra Bullock told a story of (re)birth, in Proxima Eva Green undergoes demanding prenatal preparation (represented by a number of visual metaphors) prior to flying into space. Instead of discovering new worlds, she distances herself from Earth and her daughter in several phases (first only training in a children’s game, then a trial farewell with salamanders released into a stream, then communication only from a distance). Instead of the dangers of deep space, she faces pressure from a society that is sceptical about whether, as a mother, she can handle a similar professional challenge, whether leaving her Stella behind is the responsible thing to do. Tension is not induced by life-threatening situations, but rather by the attempt to balance her role as a mother with the physically and mentally demanding training recorded step by step. The film offers no sentimentalism (Sakamoto’s music is used sparingly), but procedural matter-of-factness and inventive (and touching) use of parallels between the situations of the mother and daughter (both become accustomed to a foreign environment, get to know new people and are forced to use a language other than their mother tongue). Physical and parental autonomy go hand in hand. A feeling of independence is the basis of the catharsis during an amazing scene with a herd of wild horses, which Stella apparently sees for the first time in her life and is at last close to that which she only previously dreamed of. If we do not break away, we will not achieve our dreams. 80% (31.07.2020)

Atmospheric, thoughtful, subtle. A journey into the universe that is unique, almost documentary-like and far from the mainstream of Armageddon and its ilk. Eva Green is traditionally great, and so are the other actors. The emotional level is impressive, it is clear that Alice Winocour has a typical directorial signature. Maryland and Proxima have many similarities and are definitely worth seeing. (25.02.2021)

Proxima - Die Astronautin ist bestimmt kein schlechter Film. Der Gedanke, dass die Astronauten (Astronautinnen) auf dem Weg ins Weltall außer der Schwerkraft noch eine andere Kraft überwinden müssen, gefiel mir sehr. Eva Green in der Hauptrolle ist prima. Die Geschichte ist leider nicht so gut. Sie ist irgendwie einfach, es kommt keine große Überraschung… Und wenn etwas Überraschendes kommt (der unglaubliche "Nachtausflug“), ärgert man sich eher darüber. (07.07.2020)

Es gibt viele Filme über die Raumfahrt, aber nicht viele, die die Situation vor dem Verlassen der Erde darstellen, was Proxima - Die Astronautin zu einem der thematisch wenig abgedroschenen Filme macht. Der Film schildert auf glaubwürdige Weise die Situation zwischen Mutter und Tochter, die ein Jahr lang getrennt sein werden, und gibt gleichzeitig einen (informationsreichen und authentischen) Einblick in die schwierigen Vorbereitungen auf die Weltraummission, die für die Hauptfigur eine große Herausforderung, einen Traum und eine schwierige Lebensentscheidung zugleich darstellt. Anfangs konnte mich Proxima nicht wirklich fesseln, aber im letzten Drittel nahm der Film an Fahrt auf und bot eine starke Geschichte über die Trennung von Mutter und Tochter. Eva Green hat eine sehr überzeugende und bemerkenswerte Leistung erbracht, und Zélie Boulant als ihre Tochter hat ihr treu zur Seite gestanden. (08.07.2020)

Until about halfway through, Proxima looks very realistic, but then things start to happen that are pretty crazy. I'm particularly disappointed that the main character managed to leave the pre-departure quarantine without anyone noticing, and on top of that, she was with her daughter for several hours in an area that should be heavily guarded. If I focus purely on the direction, cinematography, and music, I have practically no reservations when it comes to these aspects. (55%) (28.12.2021)