4 Reasons Eva Green's Astronaut Flick 'Proxima' Is a Must-See!

Alice Winocour surprised us once again with a beautiful film that deals with difficult topics such as family, love, and responsibility.

Although we can’t help but wonder where Proxima was during Oscar season, we definitely believe that the alluring script and stunning performances deserve more recognition.

But what makes this movie so special? See below to find out!

1. The cast is beyond brilliant.

I’m not afraid to say it: this might be Eva Green’s best performance yet and can only be compared to her time in "Penny Dreadful".

Eva’s way of communicating so much without overreacting is probably one of the best things about the movie. Her conflict between her dreams and loyalty to her daughter is gracefully showed and leaves us no questions about the incredible talent that she has! Not only does Eva Green portray intricate emotions flawlessly, but much more complex themes through her gestures, glances, and movement.

But she isn’t the only one with an astounding performance: Zélie Boulant, who plays her daughter Stella, is definitely someone to watch out for in the future. It’s not every day that a child actor can act in such a natural and instinctive way – I was utterly surprised with how skilled she was!

2. The “no one to blame” situation

Let’s take a look at the plot to understand this:

Sarah is a French astronaut that gets selected for a one-year mission in space, which would mean finally accomplishing her childhood dream. But can she leave behind her daughter for such a long time?

This isn’t a black or white type of circumstances. Both Sarah and Stella are trying their best to make it work, but inevitably distance starts to take a toll on their relationship. While both struggle to maintain contact, it progressively becomes clear that change is inevitable and that their relationship will turn into something different if the trip takes place. Is it worth it? Can it even work?

As we follow Sarah’s training and preparation for the mission, we can see her doubts and insecurities arise.

3. The dazzling authenticity

The beauty of the movie relies on the realness of the struggle to be there for the ones you love while remaining true to yourself.

The space here isn’t what’s important: the future of their mother and daughter connection is. The everyday problems are what kept my attention on the screen, since they reflected the frustration and discontent that both of them were suffering.

Also, I loved Eva Green’s use of both English and French according to the context. It brought more realism (and Eva’s accent was perfect) and created an authentic framework that worked wonderfully. 

4. The direction!

The detail and care in every shot, line, and performance can only be thanked to director Alice Winocour.

The light, the composition, and even the sound were spectacular! She did a truly amazing job and we hope to see more of her in future film festivals.

It’s very inspiring to see female directors creating such stunning movies full of much needed complex female characters. Keep them coming!