“Another Earth” A Profound, Thoughtful Hidden Gem

Next up on my little cinematic journey of independent films is a 2011 film called “Another Earth.”

In the film “Another Earth,” Rhoda Williams, a bright young woman accepted into MIT’s astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. A brilliant composer, John Burroughs, has just reached the pinnacle of his profession and is about to have his second child.

On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined.

“Another Earth” is a drama that also blends in a bit of science fiction in this thoughtful little film. This film also explores themes of possible alternate lives and the human condition through a unique premise.

Now, the pace of this film can be a little slow-moving at times. Once Rhoda decides to try to make amends for the tragic accident, the emotion in the film really builds from there. And, throughout the film John had no idea since Rhoda was a minor when the accident happened.

The 2011 film also dives into a couple themes including regret, second chances and the potential for new beginnings after a traumatic event. All of those themes in the film also help give the film a good amount of emotion. Throughout the film, we do see how their friendship builds and during the film you can sometimes wonder whether John will ever

find out that Rhoda is responsible for the accident.

The mirror Earth sub-plot is also intriguing as it serves as a metaphor for the possibility of a different life and to possibly imagine a future free from the consequences of past actions. The ending of the film does leave things a little ambiguous which is great, yet there’s a small tiny twist at the end which is also a nice touch.

Trivia: The idea behind “Another Earth” first developed out of director MIke Cahill and actress/co-writer Brit Marling speculating as to what it would be like if one were to encounter one’s own self. In order to explore the possibility on a large scale, they devised the concept of a duplicate Earth.

“Another Earth” had its world premiere at the 27th Sundance Film Festival in January 2011. The distributor Fox Searchlight Pictures (now Searchlight Pictures) won the distribution rights in a deal worth $1.5 to $2.5 million, beating out other distributors including Focus Features and the now defunct The Weinstein Company.

MPA: Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, some sexuality, nudity and brief drug use   (running time 92 minutes)

You can currently stream “Another Earth” on the Max streaming service, or rent it via YouTube, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

• Filmed in and around New Haven, Connecticut - Mike Cahill's hometown. Cahill knew that by filming there he would be able to call on favors from family and friends, helping keep costs down. This is particularly true of the car crash that is an integral part of the film. One of Cahill's friends is a police officer who was able to shut down some roads to allow for filming.

• Brit Marling wanted William Mapother because she had been haunted by his performance in In the Bedroom (2001). Mapother agreed to make the film for $100 a day.

• No mention is made of the effect that the vicinity of Earth 2 may have on Earth 1's gravity. A special effects scene was shot, in which Rhoda sees tree blossoms dancing in the air, due to the pull of Earth 2's gravity, but the scene did not work and was deleted from the final print.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hEwMMDtFY