Interstellar: love as an answer

Christopher Nolan is always a bit controversial; praised as a great filmmaker by many and repudiated by many others. Can there be a balance of opinions? Today, we talk about one of the most adored films for its fanswhich for many represents the science fiction epic of the 21st century: Interstellar (2014).

Interstellar It starts in a dystopian future that is not at all crazy. The Earth has become an inhospitable place, full of dust and where crops are barely productive.

Nolan sets his sights on Cooper, a widower who lives with his children and father-in-law on the farm he runs. But Cooper was not always a farmer, he was an engineer and had worked as a pilot for NASA. The presence of some strange events in his daughter’s room will lead Cooper to reconnect with NASA and enroll in a mission that could save humanity: find a planet that can replace Earth.

The film has been praised for its attempt to narrate an epic very close to science, for capturing in images of exceptional veracity what wormholes and black holes are like. But Beyond scientific explanations, its success lies in the human background of the discourse.

More science than fiction?

Interstellar It tells a fictional story, but based on a strong scientific basis. To make the film, they had the help of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. Thus, Most of the representations we see on screen are subject to the laws of physics and are close to reality.. As we pointed out at the beginning, the image of the wormhole, for example, is totally realistic.

The science of Interstellar, although it may falter towards the end, is surprisingly believable. Proof of this is that has given rise to countless debates and scientific articles; a relevant fact that positions the film beyond purely cinematographic frameworks.

Visually, it presents us with amazing special effects, a great use of music, sound and the absence of it when we see an explosion in space. Demonstrating that Science and cinema can be combined, feelings and emotions can be directed without leaving scientific accuracy aside.

From the beginning, we are shown a dystopian future that is still terrifyingly probable. In the era of climate change, one of our biggest fears should be the future of our own planet. This start fits perfectly with that scientific veracity that Nolan sought so much, but that also works against him at times.

Thus, the vision of the wormhole is taken care of down to the smallest detail, but Everyday elements that may bother the average viewer without scientific knowledge are overlooked..

Cinema, at the end of the day, is a narrative, a fiction, and although we want to believe in what we see, it is difficult to imagine how a person who has spent so much time “sleeping” can move without difficulty; How characters who have been in space for years, experiencing countless misadventures, can continue to maintain that fresh appearance from the beginning.

And it is that When we talk about verisimilitude, we may care more about everyday details than more purely scientific questions.. They can tell us a movie about fairies or imaginary beings and still be credible.

Interstellar part of science to build itself; something that is very interesting, but that, sometimes, ends up playing tricks on you. One of the statements that is often heard from Nolan’s detractors is that the filmmaker tends to overexplain himself, to not allow the viewer to close the story and give free rein to his imagination.

Therefore, although we are not going to deny the good intention and the great work behind the film, Interstellar He gets lost in his explanations and leaves aside other issues that give greater consistency to the script.. It wants to be shown as a complex film and, in reality, it makes what was already simple difficult and, far from dealing with purely philosophical or convoluted issues, it ends up talking to us about a well-known topic: love.

Interstellar: a new ‘space odyssey’?

It is impossible not to think about 2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick, 1968) when we see Interstellar. Not only because they are two space science fiction films, but because of the plot similarities. Nolan himself has confessed to being a great admirer of Kubrick and, in fact, we can observe several references throughout the film.

Probably, the shadow of the majestic 2001 continue to ponder for many years about the new space movies that can be made. And, although we have technology that was unthinkable in the 20th century, Kubrick’s film continues to be the great reference for the space epic.

Many have wanted to see in Interstellar the new great epic of our century, a worthy successor to 2001 and, although they can be compared on some points, I consider that this comparison would be quite unfair to Nolan’s film and would end up leaving it in a bad light. Besides, We are in very different historical moments and the intentionality is completely different.. If we think about Kubrick’s film, the world was at the height of the space race, we dreamed of the stars and the moon was getting closer.

This positive vision of progress is present in the film – although it also warns us of the danger of our own creations – evolution will lead us to a better future and science and technology are the most hopeful future. However, Interstellar It is positioned in a pessimistic, dark future, in which man no longer dreams of the stars, but instead tries to recover his own soil.. Today, that space race seems to have fizzled out, the future does not look as promising as it once did, and our species is the only one to blame.

Kubrick didn’t need words to explain; He left viewers thinking, reflecting on his own species, space, religion and science. He tried to address countless transcendental issues, while Interstellar seems to want to tell us the same thing to, finally, point in a single direction: man. Consequently, he ends up combining a speech that appeals to our most natural feelings and instincts: love and survival.

the love moves the world

If there is something that remains constant throughout the entire film, it is nothing other than the idea of ​​love as an engine to move and change the world.. We are not talking about romantic love, but about love in its broadest sense; love for loved ones, for one’s neighbor… On the scientific basis rests a love story, paternal-filial love that we can all identify. And together with love, we find survival.

Love moves us, it seems to control our destiny and many of our actions are deeply influenced by it.. Thus, Cooper’s decision is not so much about saving all of humanity, but rather his children, the most important people in his life, more than himself. And although this could be seen as a selfish gesture, it is nothing more than a feeling that we all possess and know.

For this reason, The film makes sense when it points directly to the idea of ​​love, to that knowledge that seems to surpass the limits of science.that which has no explanation and yet is constantly interfering in our lives.

Who wouldn’t make some sacrifice for their loved ones? Love is what can save the world, love for our loved ones, for our species and for our planet. Our present actions will have consequences in the future and, surely, no one wants to bequeath an inhospitable and desolate planet.

Interstellar moves away from the freneticism of Origin (2010) and the swing of memento (2000), Nolan constructs a slower film that, despite its length and overload of explanations, does not end up tiring the viewer. On a scientific basis, a film ends up being built with a clear message: love moves the world.

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