“Interstellar,” touches on a dire concern of
our time: the denial of science. As a result, the earth has become unable to sustain human life since all the crops (except for one variety of corn) have been wiped out by the blight. The last of our
resources have been expended in growing corn. Our public school system has been
reduced to crowd control and survival skills. Director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter
Jonathan Nolan bring out the human side through the relationship between corn farmer/former astronaut Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and his daughter, Murph (Mackenzie Foy). It’s not enough that he’s dealing
with the imminent demise of the world, Cooper is called into the principal's office. But this time it isn't about his son getting into a fight. His science
geek daughter, Murph, is reprimanded for insisting that there was once a space program.
History has been rewritten to exclude the moon landing because it is thought of
as a waste of time, effort, and resources. NASA was dropped with the economic
collapse. Cooper mourns the loss, “We used to look up at the sky and wonder
about our place in the stars, now we just look down and wonder about our place
in the earth.”
Fortunately, NASA went underground
and may be humanity’s only hope. Cooper is forced to make a heart wrenching
decision between staying to comfort his children during their last days, or
heading to space on the slim chance that he can find another planet that is
habitable. Murph is left with only a broken watch to await his return.
 |
| Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne |
We watch breathlessly as the crew blasts off into space. It is almost as if time
is nonlinear as we shoot through the wormhole to explore another galaxy with them. Nolan seems to challenge the recent political travesty that science is expendable by staying true to the physical laws. Theoretical Physicist Kip Thorne was more than
just a consultant on the set. He was brought in from the inception to develop
the treatment with producer Lynda Obst (of "Contact").
Thorne worked closely with the VFX to help them visualize black holes in space. Their simulations were based on the equations
he provided.
“Interstellar,” is a testament to the importance of science and
the space program. But it transcends physical dimensions with lofty ideas and wonder.
Movie blessings!
Jana Segal
www.reelinspiration.blogspot.com
