“You don’t realise how quiet space can be until you’re drifting in it…”
Firstly, if you haven’t heard about it and you LOVE science fiction like I do, then please subscribe to this amazing short film channel called DUST on YouTube that I just learned about through Google recommendations… Thank you Google for tracking my every whispered desire! DUST features films which explore humanity through the lens of science and technology with series, short films and podcasts! For more, check out the DUST YouTube channel here or you can watch their films on their instagram here. Obviously DUST has been going for a really long time and I cannot believe this is the first I’m hearing about them.. SHAME. SHAME. SHAME.
So, I stumbled onto this film not knowing anything about it other than like a tardis it came in a small package but was MUCH, MUCH LARGER INSIDE!
Alone, directed by William Hellmuth who may possibly have the most rad surname for a director to date, follows Kaya Torres a spaceship engineer. As the viewer, you’re thrown straight into the reality that Kaya has escaped near death in an escape pod circling what appears to be a black hole as she explains that her crew has perished and she is the sole survivor. I really liked being thrown straight into the deep end with this story. It felt like it took me straight to the crux of the problem. Feature length space films usually involve a big lead up. The lack of this, plus the lack of massive booming soundtracks actually meant I felt oddly calm watching it. There’s no build up of tension and though I know Kaya’s situation is dire and I wasn’t sure how she would get out of this substantial pickle, it was almost serene. That in itself was tense. The line which she utters above is like the icing on the cake and was excellently done.
Kaya manages to connect with a stranger who is stranded on a nearby planet and together they give each other comfort, acting as cheerleaders to one another and exploring each others fears and past lives. Kaya struggles through one failure after another as she circles through her options before the crescendo ending (which I won’t give away).
All in all, excellent short. Beautifully shot and acted. Really great, moody colour scheme and close shots which give an impression of how small/cramped the pod is. The film packs a punch and doesn’t waste any energy on faff. The science is sound and I’m super glad that the director/writers didn’t try to explain the concepts of travelling through certain things that shall not be mentioned with THAT tired paper explanation (you know which one I’m talking about). I hope one day this is picked up by Hollywood and that the story is expanded because it would be an excellent feature film.
You can watch ‘Alone’ here (Enjoy!):
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