infrequent strong language, brief nudity
2019 ( France | Germany ) ( Action, Adventure, Drama )
(English with subtitled French, German and Russian)
DIRECTOR: Alice Winocour
STARRING: Eva Green, Zélie Boulant, Matt Dillon
At the centre of Proxima is a heart-warming story of a mother and daughter. Sarah (Eva Green) is a French astronaut. She is the only woman in the ‘Proxima’ space program, of which she was chosen to go on a year-long endeavour. Normally, she lives alone with Stella (Zélie Boulant-Lemesle), her daughter. Sarah feels guilt and a strong pressure that’s built up by her extended periods away training. She hasn’t even left Earth yet, and the strain on mother and daughter is already profound.
The film focuses on the hardship of motherhood, the difficulty of balancing that with a career, and the added difficulty of being a woman in an industry dominated by men. With beautiful direction and cinematography plus a haunting score, and excellent acting by Eva Green and Zélie Boulant, Proxima is a perceptive reflection on motherhood and the bond between mother and daughter.
(1hr 47min)