Ad Astra

This science fiction drama produced and starred in by Brad Pitt; is an introspective, understated and boldly beautiful film. It shows the very lengths we go to in order to find and rediscover ourselves- in Brad Pitt character’s case, all the way to Neptune.
He travels all the way to this planet with the goal of finding his estranged father, and ends the journey, with a renewed sense of life, connection and self-understanding. The film is subtle and at its core; internally focused, as it features the detached relationship between father and son, yet the intimacy longed for by the protagonist. He is essentially a reclusive loner and initially does not want to rely on anyone else but himself. He also suppresses his emotions and is seen as an unbelievably calm person, lacking in emotional openness, which also makes him distant and detached from his wife, who he later reconciles with (sorry, spoiler!)
The transformation that occurs within the protagonist makes him more radically honest, embark on a journey of intensive inner work, release control and extreme mastery of himself, and allows him to take internally courageous risks by showing his vulnerability. He lets go, and embraces the struggle and crisis he experiences throughout this film’s course.
His pain mainly comes from the early abandonment of his father, perfectly played by Tommy Lee Jones. Brad Pitt said in one press interview, that he and James Gray, the film’s director, wanted to express notions of masculinity, and that a more dynamic, changed definition of it can exist, so that men can have better relationships with themselves and with their loved ones.

His character increases in self-awareness and recognises his deepest pains.
The standout scenes for me were:

• The psychological evaluation done on his way to Mars where he says vulnerably and authentically, ‘’All I see is hurt…I don’t know how to get past this…I don’t want to be my Dad.’’
• Meeting his father and facing the hurt that has caused him this sense of loneliness
• Letting go of his father (physically and emotionally)
• The final scene, where his last psych evaluation monologue is radically different to the ones prior. It shows how outer space paved a way for him entering his own internal space, and becoming the man he was truly capable of becoming.

 
This film reminds us of our very need for each other and humanity. That we all, deep down, seek genuine connection. All of this is set against the backdrop of a stunning space-realism and spectacular cinematography which is intriguing, nuanced and gorgeous.
As Brad Pitt himself said about the movie, it is ‘’a journey of the soul, of the self.’’
 
I give this one 3 out of 5 stars (‘’to the stars!’- meaning of Ad Astra)
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