“Is this how your kind treats feelings of loneliness?” “It’s one way I suppose.”
Stuck out in space all by yourself on an important mission. Your wife is not returning any of your calls, and a malfunctioning toilet deprives you of a restful night’s sleep. Suddenly, a mysterious spider-like creature pays you a visit to talk about your life’s most profound turning point.
Spaceman, the latest Netflix Sci-Fi Drama by director Johan Renck (Chernobyl), takes audiences on a journey of isolation, introspection, and loneliness in the vastness of space. It is an adaptation by screenwriter Colby Day of the absurdist Czech novel “Spaceman of Bohemia.” Premiering at the Berlin Film Festival as part of the Berlinale Special Gala section, the film introduces us to Czech Astronaut Jakub (Adam Sandler), grappling with loneliness during a lone space mission to investigate purple clouds of glowing particles. The isolation and solitude in space, as well as the radio silence from his pregnant wife Lenka (Carey Mulligan), takes a toll on him and pushes him to the brink of insanity. Peter (Kunal Nayyar), responsible for Jakub’s wellbeing, tries to reason with him to keep the mission under control. As Jakub teeters on the edge of madness, he meets Hanus (voiced by Paul Dano), the spider-like alien who teaches him about the universe’s origins and makes him look at the reality of his troubled marriage. What follows is a narrative that unfolds with a thought-provoking, Kafkaesque touch, presenting a captivating premise that is somewhat predictable – it’s a story about metamorphosis, forgiveness, and discovery of what truly matters to you. Sprinkled in are a few bits of Comedy and satire, jokes that land nicely, but aren’t as consistent as they could’ve been.
Adam Sandler, well-known for his comedic expertise, navigates the dramatic landscape with moments of brilliance – especially the passive, quiet scenes were acted out in a very profound way. Carey Mulligan, skilled at delivering powerful performances in tragic female roles, leaves a lasting mark, despite the criminally limited screen time. However, the film sadly doesn’t escape the outdated trope of using women as plot-device for the development of male protagonists.
The standout element of the film is Paul Dano’s Hanus, who becomes an unexpected and intriguing companion for Jakub. The initial discomfort induced by the creature’s arachnid appearance quickly transforms into a wholesome presence as it begins empathizing with Jakub and, in human fashion, turns to snacks to soothe the pain. A shared love for Hazelnut spread and the desire to discover more about one another forms a friendship between the two, a highlight of the film.
While Spaceman may have its moments of predictability, the film does succeed in creating a thought-provoking exploration of human emotions in the isolating expanse of space. Considering that there wasn’t a whole lot of depth to the narrative and that the most enjoyable moments were those that elicited genuine laughter, I can’t shake the feeling that this would have excelled more as a straightforward comedy film.
Spaceman releases on 23 February in limited US and UK cinemas and will be streaming internationally on Netflix by March 1st.
Featured Photo Credit: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.