Interstellar is a masterpiece of a film created by acclaimed director Christopher Nolan in 2014, as he opened the eyes of many to a brand new world of science fiction. The film follows Cooper, a former NASA pilot turned farmer, who is convinced to travel through space and time to discover new possibilities as the health of the Earth declines. Although the future of the human race rests on his shoulders, Cooper must choose between saving the world for years to come or savoring the last few with his family. Interstellar is a beautiful story combining the human condition with the complexity of love and the unknown, inspiring us to wonder where we will be in the future and how we will advance as a species.
The film’s beginning is very emotional as it grounds us down to earth into Cooper’s home life, displaying what it’s truly like to be human. Cooper is a widower with two children, one being his 10-year-old daughter, Murphy, with whom he shares a special bond. Their relationship is the heart of the film. If Cooper didn’t have any kids, it would have been ten times easier for him to take on this otherworldly mission; however, the reason he decides to take it is for the sake of his children. It seems almost counterintuitive, but that’s what makes his character so special: Cooper is never afraid to be objective. His motivation stems from the chance that he could save the entire human race, not just his family, which is a challenging yet critical thing to do for many individuals.
However, Cooper also decided to leave his family because, as his father said, “this world was never enough for [him].” Humans are curious creatures; we are made to question everything. This is especially true for scientists like Cooper and Murphy, who desire to see more of what’s out there for us. Murphy is inspired by her dad to finish what he started, and she knows she has what it takes. Throughout the film, we are left wondering if the two will ever meet again, and it’s clear that it takes a toll on both characters, regardless of their drastically different perspectives. Nevertheless, neither of them are stunted by the distance, and they instead use it as motivation to work even harder to achieve their goal.
Although far-fetched, this story truly opened many eyes to the reality of our dying world. It inspires us to face the consequences of our actions and forces us to conclude that we are not immortal beings, at least not yet. Later, it’s revealed that the energy aiding the crew on their mission is a more advanced human race, leading us to believe that this mission is the basis for a more advanced future. Had they not taken this chance, had Cooper not left his family, there would be no home to return to. Their bravery is deeply inspiring when it comes to exploring the unknown, which is a hurdle we must conquer daily. Although there is fear of the unknown, our curiosity and determination will lead us to unimaginable discoveries with endless possibilities—and it is so worth it.
One of the main reasons that this film inspired me personally is because of the beautiful cinematography created throughout. All of the actors were chosen perfectly. I especially love Michael Caine as Professor Brand because he has such a lovely, trustworthy appeal, which he always seems to use to his advantage in his roles. In this film, in particular, he enlists the help of Coop by displaying all the amazing possibilities of this mission, however, he purposefully fails to tell Coop that all life on earth was never supposed to be saved. Brand solely planned to make a whole new race on a new planet. This news is devastating to the entire crew and changes their whole perspective of the mission, but it’s also such a crucial point of the plot, as now the crew must decide whether to complete the mission or see their family one last time.
Interstellar is a beautiful, emotional, and inspiring journey of a film that remains a Christopher Nolan classic today. Critics have admired it for its complexity while audiences remain captivated by its passion. It’s a unique, yet realistic approach to such an extreme concept and was executed perfectly, leaving us with an undeniable cult classic and an automatic cinephile favorite.
