STOWAWAY
US, 2021, 116 minutes, Colour.
Anna Kendrick, Tony Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson.
Directed by Joe Penna.
The title indicates a dramatic crisis. However, this is a space exploration film and a spacecraft, on its way to Mars, is not exactly the place to find a stowaway.
On the one hand, Stowaway continues in the tradition of the space exploration films, a focus on the technical aspects of the takeoff, the training of the crew, the situation on board, the ever-present possibility of difficulties as seen in the blast off. The group is on a special mission to Mars, material for the establishment of a centre for scientific research having been sent in an unmanned vehicle. The experts are now on this craft.
Toni Collette, speaking with her Australian accent, is the commander of the craft, faced with technical decisions as well as moral issues. Anna Kendrick is the young medical expert, glad to have an opportunity, surprise that she has been chosen. Daniel Dae Kim is a scientist, in charge of a project on which he has been working for years, possibilities for plant life and development.
After the takeoff, all seems well. The personnel have been trained. They seem to work well and collaborate with each other.
Suddenly, the drama changes with the discovery of some blood drops, an unconscious technician, trapped in the spacecraft before it took off. He is played by Shamier Anderson.
On the one hand, the stowaway has technical knowledge and is able to help with various issues in the running of the craft. On the other hand, the practical issues of oxygen supply, precisely calculated before takeoff face the crew, possibilities of supplementing oxygen, experiments with the plants, travelling outside the spacecraft to cylinders to bring in more oxygen.
Which means then that the film is a blend of moral issues, the possibility of killing the stowaway to save the oxygen for the other members of the crew and their mission. There are also the technical problems as the members, especially the young doctor, goes out of the craft to retrieve the cylinders and the tension in the process.
Some bloggers have complained that the ending is ambiguous. However, given the stance of the doctor, and the final images we see of her, it would seem that she has made a decision concerning herself and the possibilities for the crew to complete their mission.
- The tradition of space exploration films? The journey, the characters, crises? Moral decisions? Exploration and voyages to Mars?
- The set, the spacecraft, the interiors and complexities, exteriors, vastness and space? The musical score?
- The basic mission, the commander, the two scientists, travelling to Mars, the unmanned spacecraft proceeding them with material? Scientific experiments? Health? Plants and growth?
- The personalities, the takeoff, the background of their training? The commander, her experience, her training, her skills? Zoe, not expecting to be on the mission, her work? David, training, experiments, plants?
- The drop of blood, the discovery of Michael, the background of his being on the craft, his skills, locked in? His background, his stories, the fire, the little girl and his care for her? Sympathetic? The impact on the other three?
- The voyage proceeding normally? The crisis with the realisation about water, oxygen? The three and their deliberations without Michael?
- The commander, her responsibilities, continual concern? The discussions with David? His experiments, not providing enough oxygen? His being prepared to sacrifice his years of work?
- His telling Michael, providing him with the means to kill himself? Zoe discovering this, the discussions with Michael, wanting to save him?
- Life and death situation without oxygen? A situation for someone to sacrifice themself?
- The attempt to retrieve the oxygen, David and Zoe, the difficulty of going out, climbing and the effort, going down to the storage, Zoe and her mission, the amount of oxygen, bringing it back? The news of the storm coming, the loss of the cylinder?
- The talk amongst the group? Zoe, volunteering to go back, retrieving the other cylinder?
- Zoe, her concern for Michael, the voyage as an opportunity for her, standing on the verge, the end not making so explicit her decision and self-sacrifice?
