Meanwhile on Earth explained

Meanwhile on Earth
Native Name:
Producer:Marc du Pontavice
Editing:Jean Christophe Bouzy
Cinematography:Robrecht Heyvaert
Music:Dan Levy
Studio:One World Films
Distributor:Diaphana Distribution
Runtime:88 minutes
Country:France
Language:French

Meanwhile on Earth (French: Pendant ce temps sur terre) is a 2024 French science fiction drama film directed by Jérémy Clapin. The film starring Megan Northam as Elsa, revolves around an 'absent' hero, Franck, who disappeared during a space mission three years ago. His sister Elsa who was very close to him, find it difficult to continue her life, till one day she is contacted by an alien life form.[1]

It was selected in the Panorama section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and was screened on 16 February 2024.[2]

Cast

Production

Meanwhile on Earth, the second feature film and first fiction film of Jérémy Clapin, is produced by Marc du Pontavice for One World Films.[3]

Filming began from 30 August 2022 and was finished around October 2022 in communes of Puy de Dôme viz.: Clermont-Ferrand and its surrounds, Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, Royat, the forest in Orcines, the crater lake in Gour de Tazenat, and in Paris and Belgium.[4]

Release

Meanwhile on Earth had its world premiere in February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Panorama.[5] [6] [7]

It was released theatrically on 1 May 2024 in France by Diaphana Distribution,[8] after it competed in the International Competition at 39th Mons International Film Festival held from 8 to 16 March 2024.[9]

The film had its North American premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 22, 2024.[10]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 80% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[11]

Jordan Mintzer reviewing for The Hollywood Reporter termed the film as "Visually impressive, if not fully grounded". Concluding, Mintzer praised Dan Levy for his "dreamy score" and Clapin’s visual talents and wrote, Meanwhile on Earth takes us beyond our desolate everyday lives to a place we can indeed dream of — and also witness on screen."[12]

Damon Wise opined that the writer-director Jérémy Clapin improvised Jean Cocteau’s 1950 classic Orphée and giving it a "very modern makeover", explores concept of grief with Meanwhile on Earth "in a strange, poetic, and endearingly surreal meditation on the counter-intuitive ways in which we react when confronted with loss." Wise praised Megan Northam, the lead star, writing, "Northam holds it all together with a mixture of surface strength and inner vulnerability like a brass-knuckle Léa Seydoux". In his review at Berlinale for Deadline he said, "Whether any part of this story is objectively “real” or not: planet earth is blue, and there’s nothing we can do."[13]

Fabien Lemercier reviewing the film at Berlinale for Cineuropa wrote, "The film is an astonishing and abundant patchwork concealing countless themes beneath its stressfully entertaining exterior, which is carved up by three brilliantly executed animated sequences, enveloped in Dan Levy ’s formidable music." Lemercier concluded the review opining, "No doubt Jérémy Clapin will refine many elements even further during his next awaited voyage into the galaxy of fiction."[14]

Writing for RogerEbert.com, Robert Daniels was more critical of the film, lamenting that the film is a "frustrating watch precisely because the elements are there, but they’ve been poorly configured, restricted from unleashing the freakishly bloody onslaught being teased."[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saoirse Ronan-Starrer 'The Outrun' Leads Berlin Panorama Lineup . Scott Roxborough . . 14 December 2023 . 16 December 2023. en.
  2. Web site: The Panorama strand of the Berlinale to open with Levan Akin's Crossing . Davide. Abbatescianni . 17 January 2024. 27 January 2024 . . en.
  3. Web site: Meanwhile on Earth. 18 December 2023. 5 February 2024 . . en.
  4. Web site: End of filming in sight for Jérémy Clapin's Meanwhile on Earth . Fabien. Lemercier . 13 October 2022. 16 December 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  5. Web site: Berlin: Saoirse Ronan, Danielle Deadwyler & Paapa Essiedu Titles Set For Panorama Sidebar. Deadline. Zac. Ntim. 14 December 2023. 16 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Berlinale unveils complete 2024 Panorama, Generation, Forum sections . Ben . Dalton . 17 January 2024 . 27 January 2024 . . en.
  7. Web site: Meanwhile on Earth . Berlinale . 6 February 2024 . 6 February 2024.
  8. Web site: Pendant ce temps sur terre, Un film de Jérémy Clapin . Meanwhile on Earth . Diaphana. December 14, 2023. 16 December 2023 . fr.
  9. Web site: The curtain rises on the 39th Mons Love International Film Festival . Aurore . Engelen . 11 March 2024. 12 March 2024 . . en.
  10. Web site: Fantasia's 28th Edition Awards Filmmaker Mike Flanagan, Closes with the World Premiere of André Forcier's Ababouiné . . July 3, 2024.
  11. Meanwhile on Earth (2024, Drama/Sci-fi) . meanwhile_on_earth_2024 . m . 28 February 2024.
  12. Web site: ‘Meanwhile on Earth’ Review: Jeremy Clapin’s Latest Combines Shaky Sci-Fi Storytelling and Arresting Imagery . Jordan Mintzer . . 16 February 2024 . 17 February 2024. en.
  13. Web site: ‘Meanwhile On Earth’ Review: An Endearingly Surreal Meditation On Loss – Berlin Film Festival. Damon . Wise . 16 February 2024. 17 February 2024 . . en.
  14. Web site: Review: Meanwhile on Earth. Fabien . Lemercier . 16 February 2024. 17 February 2024 . Cineuropa . en.
  15. Web site: Daniels . Robert . Berlin Film Festival 2024: Meanwhile on Earth, La Cocina, Another End Festivals & Awards Roger Ebert . 2024-02-22 . RogerEbert.com . en.
  16. Web site: Berlinale Unveils Full Panorama, Forum & Generation Line-Ups With New Films By Nathan Silver, Levan Akin, André Téchiné & Bruce LaBruce. Deadline. Melanie . Goodfellow. 17 January 2024. 27 January 2024.