Take your space suit fantasies and feminist dreams, mix them up, and shake them under a French cinematic lens, and voila—you get 'Proxima.' Released in 2019, this film directed by Alice Winocour brings an ambitious twist to the table. It portrays Sarah, played by the versatile Eva Green, a French astronaut preparing for a one-year mission to the International Space Station. Before you roll your eyes thinking it’s some liberal agenda, think again. Set against the backdrop of the European Space Agency, it’s more than just another women's empowerment story. It’s a reflection of core conservative principles masked in a modern context.
For starters, ‘Proxima’ captures the essence of dedication, sacrifice, and the often-undervalued traditional family structure. Sarah struggles to balance her impending mission with her role as a single mother. Yes, she’s fierce and passionate about her work, but underneath, there’s an intrinsic value for commitment and responsibility as a mother. These are not the typical elements films on female empowerment focus on, but ‘Proxima’ treads where others usually don’t—a nod to honoring both personal ambition and family values simultaneously.
The film doesn’t let political correctness overshadow real-world complexities. Sarah’s journey showcases that despite pressures, everyone isn’t ‘entitled’ to have it all at the same time. Some might say it's about breaking the glass ceiling, but it's more about bringing people back to reality. Each choice has sacrifices and consequences. Work-life balance isn’t a myth stuck in the dogma of some feminist textbook; it’s messy, and 'Proxima' doesn’t shy away from highlighting this reality.
Unlike many modern films, ‘Proxima’ doesn't caricature men as inherently problematic. Lazare, played by Lars Eidinger, and Mike, portrayed by Matt Dillon, present diverse male perspectives without falling into cliché traps. Though at times competitive, both roles are representations of individual journeys rather than a gender blame game. It’s not men vs. women or patriarchy versus freedom. It’s about human stories, roles, and trying to do the best one can.
Something feels refreshing when a movie doesn’t preach but instead tells a story that can be interpreted beyond politicized borders. The absence of propaganda-heavy narratives often seen in Hollywood is a welcome change. The balance of perspectives with no moral superiority makes for a narrative that escapes modern day victimhood mentalities.
And let's not forget the setting itself. The space program is a perfect metaphor for American ideals—innovation, exploration, and hard work. While many films glorify outer space solely on scientific terms, ‘Proxima’ does so by personifying aspirations—universal dreams that need no gender-tagged narratives.
Imagine a film that yes, celebrates a woman taking charge, but does not manipulate the viewer to think women need to outdo men to matter. Inherently conservative ideas resonate through choices a mother makes for her child, through decisions to prioritize what truly matters, and to diligently work hard against all odds. It's simple storytelling, real, impactful, and reaches out to an audience that sees more than what’s just on the screen.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the film meticulously captures the rawness of space training. The beautifully shot sequences involve genuine space operations and intricate details that even space aficionados cherish. It stands to reason that despite its modest production scale, ‘Proxima’ never downplays the majesty and challenges of space—the space race allegory still holds courage and ingenuity as our yardstick.
In a world full of noise where the loudest voices sometimes drown out nuanced conversation, Alice Winocour brings forward a story that resists complete categorization. Hollywood might want every film to straddle some agenda, but the simplicity of 'Proxima' gives room to breathe. It’s not about reducing greatness to gender warfare, but about acknowledging that human spirit and familial values go hand in hand.
So, why talk about 'Proxima' today? Because it’s a reminder that powerful storytelling doesn’t need to shout from a mountaintop or force you into a binary choice. Movies like this highlight what resonates deeply within a traditional context—and showcases it's still possible to be both ambitious and responsible to one's family. Destroying stereotypes shouldn't mean conforming to another—for a life fulfilled isn't bound by want versus need in a liberal liberal-driven narrative, when it follows a true individual path.