EUROPA REPORT

US, 2013, 90 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Wu, Sharlto Copley, Christian Camargo, Karolina Wydra, Michael Niqvist, Anamaria Marinca, Embeth Davidtz, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Dan Fogler.
Directed by Sebastian Cordero.

Europa Report is a small science-fiction film about space exploration. The director is from Ecuador and made the science-fiction film, Cronicas. The cast is international, several Americans but actors from South Africa, Russia, Romania, Sweden.

Apart from the framing press conference focusing on a panel of three scientists, the action takes place inside the spacecraft on its way to Jupiter to search for life under the ice. At first all goes well, the film showing ordinary life within the craft. However, communication is cut and it is only when footage is returned later to earth that the scientists can reconstruct what happened, members going outside the craft for repairs or for exploration, shock movements within the craft and the final survival of one of the crew who speaks to camera. And this is later found with the other footage of what happened.

The film has something of an authentic feel about space exploration and the commitment of astronauts.

1. Small-budget film? Science and technology? Space exploration? Astronauts, the tasks, personality, commitment?

2. The setting in space, the spacecraft, external visuals, the interiors, the workplaces, gravity?

3. The basic premise, the expedition to Jupiter, the ice on Jupiter, exploration? The ambitions? The knowledge from the expedition? Life in the galaxies?

4. The opening, the characters, their working together, Corrigan showing the craft to the little girl on earth, the sudden disconnection?

5. The press conference on earth, the scientists and their explanations, their enthusiasms? No information until the footage was sent from the spacecraft?
The reconstruction of what happened?

6. The six characters on the craft, the men, the women, their work, interactions, support?

7. James Corrigan, his work, going out of the craft, his suit, the substance in his suit, his death?

8. The captain, his control, communications, decisions, the upset and his death?

9. Katya, Russian, her skills, going outside, the exploration, the ice, the lifeforms, communicating them, the creature, her death?

10. Daniel, his work, the craft on the ice, trying to lift off, his death?

11. Andre, serious, his concerns, growing anxiety, concerned about Katya, his having to go outside, his hold for the blast off, the creature?

12. The visuals of the creature?

13. Rosa, the video of her comments, interspersed throughout the press conference, her courage, concern for the others, her know how, her being the last,
giving the interview?

14. The reversing of the footage, from disaster to a happy group setting out?

15. This film in comparison with spectacular space and science fiction, its knowledge of space and exploration, a more authentic interpretation?