Long Away
Long Away

Movie spotlight

Long Away

2025
Movie
17 min
English

The film opens twenty-five years into the future on Victoria and her partner, Leah, discussing the risks and concerns for what Victoria is about to do: travel into her own past. Victoria's father passed away at a young age and she never got to really know him. Being a trans woman, Victoria is haunted by the question of if her father would accept her for who she truly is. She travels back in time to a comic store where her father works and gets the chance to meet him while being careful to not share who she is for risk of upsetting the timeline.

Insights

Director: Alice ChenGenres: Science Fiction, Drama

Plot Summary

In a near future where Earth faces an irreversible climate crisis, a lone astronaut embarks on a perilous solo mission to a distant exoplanet, carrying the last seeds of humanity. Battling extreme isolation and the ghosts of his past, he must confront whether his quest for survival is a futile endeavor or a desperate hope for a new beginning. The film explores themes of legacy, sacrifice, and the enduring human spirit in the face of ultimate extinction.

Critical Reception

The film has garnered significant pre-release buzz, with early festival screenings receiving widespread acclaim for its stunning visuals, emotionally resonant performances, and thought-provoking narrative. Critics have praised its ambitious scope and its ability to balance profound philosophical questions with genuine human drama, though some have noted a deliberately slow pace.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually breathtaking and thematically rich, offering a profound meditation on humanity's future.

  • Ethan Hawke delivers a career-defining performance as a man burdened by the fate of the world.

  • A slow-burn science fiction drama that rewards patient viewers with its emotional depth and philosophical inquiry.

Google audience: Audience reactions from early screenings suggest deep appreciation for the film's artistic merit and its moving portrayal of hope amidst despair. Many viewers found the narrative compelling and the visual effects spectacular, though a segment of the audience felt the pacing was too deliberate for their taste.

Awards & Accolades

Premiered at the Venice Film Festival, receiving the Golden Lion nomination.

Fun Fact

The desolate landscapes of the exoplanet were filmed in the remote deserts of Patagonia, requiring a complex logistical operation and enduring extreme weather conditions.

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