High Life (2018)

Review

113min

Genre:     Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Sci-fi

Director:  Claire Denis

Cast:       Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Mia Goth…and more

Writers:   Claire Denis, Jean-Pol Fargeau and Geoff Cox

-Synopsis-

Disregarded by society and relegated to subjects of a science experiment in space, a group of outcast criminals struggle to retain their sanity and humanity in the deep isolation of their spacecraft and its mission, as the truth about their fate conspires with their base desires to threaten the fragile dynamic of their bleak existence . . . while the potential for a miracle born of desperation survives.

When you think of sci-fi and space survival films, Claire Denis is not the first name that springs to mind, having forged a long career exploring the human condition with intimate human dramas of almost every description over the course of three decades. But now inspired by her collaboration with artist Olafur Eliasson in their 2014 short ‘Contact’, the celebrated veteran French filmmaker takes her talents and sensibilities off-world, crafting an unflinching, moody and occasionally morbid dissection of what makes us tick, but in extreme and unconventional circumstances—delivering outer space sci-fi with a bleak human face . . . and as you’ve rarely experienced before.

Robert Pattinson stars as ‘Monte’, a criminal on Earth now hurtling through space in a floating prison come science lab, alongside fellow dregs of society like the rebellious ‘Boyse’ (Mia Goth), the wistful ‘Tcherny’ (André Benjamin) and the unhinged ‘Ettore’ (Ewan Mitchell), as they precariously work together to keep the ship running while serving as deep space guinea pigs for the icy and arrogant mission doctor and scientist ‘Dibs’ (Juliette Binoche) and her callous experiments. But as their bleak and seemingly never-ending existence begins to take its toll, the ship’s relative order is shattered and the mission all but lost—save for one precious space bundle of joy.

In her English-language debut with ‘High Life’, Denis and her co-writers are largely uninterested in character backgrounds and illuminating the context in which they find themselves, or indeed the detail of the science of the mission. Instead they focus on the human behaviour within the very specific and confined here and now, unfolding in non-linear fashion as it jumps back and forth in time to unveil the story of a largely doomed journey and experiment . . . with one major triumph.

If you’re expecting copious thrills or a real space spectacle, then ‘High Life’ might not be the sci-fi for you, inspired by the likes of ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Interstellar’ in terms of mood and aesthetic, but at its introspective narrative core shares more with ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and ‘Solaris’, only not quite as abstract and existential—despite the customary ambiguous ending.

But Denis’ foray into the beyond is a far more raw and confronting affair than what’s come before it, bleak and often sexual in nature, unafraid of and in fact dwelling on the suppressed, ignominious but natural behaviour and base human desires that rarely see the light of day in space sci-fi, while more concerned with bodily fluids than any film you’ve likely seen in a while. Yet despite its unflinching provocative qualities and depictions of man’s worst instincts—bound to surface in deprivation and isolation—‘High Life’ is not really designed to shock, just unsettle, and the sex and violence are not really graphic or sustained enough to merit its 18 rating in the UK.

The director also manages to transfer her considerable experience to the stars and deliver a stylish and well-crafted sci-fi film, with lived-in, gritty space station aesthetics and an unusual craft design, as well as some brief but dazzling visuals inspired by her artist collaborator Olafur Eliasson, all captured in varying tones of artificial light by French cinematographer Yorick Le Saux (Only Lovers Left Alive, Personal Shopper). And it’s all energised by a highly atmospheric, often ethereal and occasionally jarring score from British alt-rock band ‘Tindersticks’, now regular collaborators with Denis.

‘High Life’ is essentially a psychological character piece where the rigours of space travel drives and heightens the drama, as it unravels a pseudo mystery by intercutting between an ensemble piece and a two-hander with Robert Pattinson and a couple of charming young co-stars. And the former vampire teen heartthrob continues to impress with his versatility and the choices which have moulded an admirable arthouse indie film career, meanwhile he’s well supported by the likes of the idiosyncratic Mia Goth and the always uber-charismatic Juliette Binoche as the only real authority figure on board . . . and a highly flawed one at that.

For all its daring and subversive qualities, ‘High Life’ isn’t the gut-wrenching or visceral experience that you might expect or hope for in a space survival drama, it’s more subtle than that, but still confronting and unsettling, and its relatively literal plot does occasionally trip over the odd plot hole and contradiction. Although it seeks to illuminate the dark recesses of the human condition in its own raw unflinching manner, it’s nowhere near as existential, expansive, metaphysical or profound as some of the films which clearly inspire it.

Yet Denis’ English-language debut is still an admirably put together, wonderfully moody and uncomfortably human journey into the stars, and the depths of our own souls, pulling hope out of desperation and tragedy, while making a small but beautifully formed, intimate and indelible mark on the sci-fi genre.

The Bottom Line…

A primal, hypnotic and often bleak but redemptive indie space survival tale about love, exploitation, procreation and parenthood, ‘High Life’ subverts expectations and relies on strong ensemble performances to deliver an engrossing and confronting portrait of humanity at its worst, and beauty born of desperation—as veteran French filmmaker Claire Denis gives you space sci-fi as you’ve rarely seen before.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Solaris (1972)

On a mission to investigate the psychological decline of the crew on a space station orbiting a distant planet, a psychologist soon finds himself in a mind bending ordeal which vividly revives the joy and pain of the past, and forces him into a fateful decision—in this hugely influential Soviet sci-fi classic from Andrei Tarkovsky.

Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and starring Donatas Banionis, Natalya Bondarchuk and Jüri Järvet among others.

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