Film Diaries

When I think about Space, it has always terrified me. The thought of floating; no gravity to hold me down, spacesuits and helmets that look claustrophobic, or just being on a planet where you cannot breathe its air. The Martian, starring Matt Damon as Mark Watney, pushes all the boundaries of inhabiting Mars. I learned various aspects of Space, including the scientific approach to distance in meters, atmospheric contingencies and the possibility of farming on a planet where nothing has ever grown. Watney pushed him against all odds, showing that desperation demands perseverance.

Survival Mode

I’ve never known any astronauts but I can imagine that it takes a world of training for a trip to another planet. Although Mars is considered our closest neighbor, we’ve known for quite some time that it is not safe for humans. The crew, Ares 3, encountered weather changes that called for immediate action. Jessica Chastain plays the Commander; navigating the team through their tasks on this mission. As they maneuvered through the storm, she had to make the decision that would change their trajectory. Leaders often have to make tough decisions, ones that can haunt them.

Upon waking up, finding that he was left behind on Mars, Watney was immediately proactive, seeking to figure out the most effective way to find a solution to his predicament. It was captivating to assume his approach, considering that he was a man living on borrowed time, once he’d settled into the realization that his crew was gone. Watney made the most of these moments, even in those of desperation. He knew that there was not much he could do, no easy way to contact the command center to find a way back home. Not to mention, Mars is an extremely long trip, taking months — even years to arrive safely. This can be frightening for any person, as well as a trained astronaut that could have imagined a situation like this unfolding.

Survival is not a skilled trade that many of us have. Think about an apocalypse; if we are suddenly struck my a parasite that turns everyone around us into zombies, not everyone will have the abundance to survive. We have to make our own survival. Mark Watney does just that, reminding me that with enough dedication and will to live, one can make these decisions. Matt Damon was able to bring about this feeling of determinism, survival of oneself, being in a situation that most could not bear to handle. Most may even consider suicide, but he didn’t. He fought because he believed he had a chance. If we think about it: Why give up when he had made it this far?

Desperation Leads to Innovation

This film incites the notion of persistence, which leads to desperation, which ultimately ends with innovation. I see him and I think, I have no excuse to give up fighting. Of course, he has the advantage of knowledge in the field of astrophysics and botany, but I can only dream that I could be as innovative as Watney. Mars and Earth change course in distance at different times. Mars is an average of 225 million kilometers away from Earth, which is equivalent to 140 million miles. According to citations, the exact distance changes constantly because both planets move around the sun at different speeds. One important aspect to learn about Mars is that nothing ever grows there. No plants, no trees. Not to mention the temperatures are below freezing. Mars is about 4.6 billion years old, reaching average temps of about -80 degrees Fahrenheit. I mean that is just out of this world; pun intended.

Watney is a botanist. This is essentially plant science which is an extension of biology. As one may assume, as he is stranded and must find a way to have enough provisions for survival, his skill in botany was able to provide extra time. It was fascinating to consider this, since we have not been able to do this in current times. The ability for him to conjure up methods and scientific formulas to concoct manure for plant growth on a planet where nothing ever grows just goes to show you that perhaps, anything is possible. I think if I could only have one food to eat for the a long period of time, I’d want tacos — but that wouldn’t be possible in Mars. I’d have to settle for potatoes.

Mis-en-Scène

The images were absolutely incredible. Although I’d never wish to be on another planet, Mars certainly looks beautiful in its own right. The amber colored rocks and the pink, white specks against the sky scream against the wind. The strong storms are formidable, causing havoc. There is an impending fog that is never ending, hovering on the horizon like a threat of something. The colors of this terrestrial planet appear to change like moods, ice caps that bend and shift on the floor. It is a mesmerizing planet in all its wondrous and undiscovered kinks. Ridley Scott, the Director, managed wonderfully in creating the images of Mars; really making you feel as if you were receiving live footage.

Image of Mars:

The cinematography was incredible. I was quite interested in every scene, attentive to what they wanted us to see. In other scenes, I almost felt the same physical emotions that Watney felt, the hunger, the pain, the worries and anxiety that furrowed his brows. There was an intimacy birthed in between each part of this, making me feel as though I knew him personally, like I was part of the command center that was working to bring him back home. Except all I could do was sit back and watch, wringing my hands and praying that he could find a solution to each challenge that arose. The imagery poured into each cup of necessity, leaving us with only desire to see more of his journey, with the time jumps. The image of time itself was daunting but you could feel it.

Loyalty

Although I would never choose to enter Space, I am aware that many individuals strive for this sort of impression, no matter how dangerous and harrowing. The acceptance of danger is prevalent. In his falling demise, Watney was faced with challenge after challenge but he persevered through each one, never abandoning his intentions to live. I do think that there were moments in which he appeared to lose this, but he was prepared to go down with every bit of power that was left inside his fragile body. I was emotional when his crew decided that they would return — knowing that they would be jeopardizing their own ability to return home. It reminded of the loyalty: people that care about you and will bring you home at any cost. There was an intensity present, one that toppled over the brink of friendship, leading us to the finish line. I am simply enamored. All we wanted was for Mark Watney to make it home.

Would you ever go to Space?