Movies: Europa Report

(Drivebycuriosity) - I am a connoisseur of science fiction. This genre speculates about the future by appreciating scientific possibilities. That separates science fiction from fantasy which manages without science. Unfortunately, today most of the so called science fiction books and movies are fantasy and not science fiction because they neglect science.

The movie "Europa Report" is one of the rare science fiction films and also one of the best (imdb). The thriller describes a human expedition to the Jupiter moon Europa with dramatic consequences.

The plot is based on real science and partly on data acquired by the NASA.  "Starting in 1995, NASA`s Galileo probe began a Jupiter orbiting mission that lasted for eight years, until 2003, and provided the most detailed examination of the Galilean moons to date", writes Wikipedia (wikipedia). Europa`s "surface is composed of water ice and is one of the smoothest in the Solar System.…… The apparent youth and smoothness of the surface have led to the hypothesis that a water ocean exists beneath it, which could conceivably serve as an abode for extraterrestrial life" (wikipedia).

Director Sebastián Cordero and script writer Philip Gelatt developed these insight into an inspiring drama showing the bliss of deep space travels but also the risks. The movie, that was shot entirely in a Brooklyn, New York City, studio, looks very realistic thanks to advanced digital effects. "Europa Report" also is an homage Kubrick´s "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) and Tarkovsky`s "Solyaris" (1972).

The cast -  Anamaria Marinca, Karolina Wydra, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo and more - performed as believable scientists in an extremely stressful situation.

"Europa Report" is a role model for a perfect science fiction movie and I hope to see more of this quality - and the makers of this movie - in the future. The film is a must for every real science fiction fan!