When Interstellar taught me a thing or two

So my mom had a case of the ‘mid-week crisis’ and wanted to watch a movie- Interstellar. I had been saving up that film to watch with my friends but I went anyway. After the whole awkward ‘purposely ignoring known people in the mall, because I’m watching a movie with my mom’, we finally settled in our seats. There I sat, ready to be proven ignorant because everyone had told me there was so much complex Physics attached to this film. But as the 3 hours went on (and I must say quickly), I had to disagree with all of them. The movie was the most stunning spectacle my eyes have ever witnessed and the story even more beautiful.
Now don’t get me wrong, this is NOT a movie review. But who can deny the insane music, VFX, acting, casting and…EVERYTHING! After Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, we’ve come to expect no less in the VFX department. Nolan’s movies not only win with their story, but also because their visuals can transport their audiences to different worlds – Interstellar is up there with the best. And this movie was just so well-casted! With Dallas Buyers Club and now Interstellar, Matthew McConaughey has cemented his place amongst Hollywood’s elite and in my heart. (Don’t mind the fan girl moment). But then again this isn’t a movie review.
So like I said, there I was in the theater, marveling at everything that appeared on screen. My favorite parts were actually when they would shift between the commotion within the craft and then the silence and desolation of the surrounding space. Every time that happened, it made me realize how insignificant we actually are in the whole scheme of things. Outside our world are other planets, galaxies and stars that we not only have no control over, but no knowledge about itself. Yet here we live every day, selfish, jealous, waging wars and spreading gossip. Our lives are so self involved, that at times we don’t even give a damn about the people around us.
The moment that stood out to me the most, is when McConaughey goes plunging into the black hole and hence complete darkness. For some reason those few seconds watching him made me feel so breathless and uneasy. We take friends and family so much for granted don’t we? The thought of isolation never hits us and we just take every day for granted.
Midway through the movie he asks the question, “What purpose does love serve?”. Clearly the purpose of love is to bring people close, to form bonds and grow together, so that no one on this planet ever has to go through that kind of loneliness. It’s the only thing that traverses boundaries and time, and eventually kept the characters aboard the mission sane.
The power of hope is mighty powerful. The sister and brother exhibit two ends of the hope spectrum. For the girl who hopes her dad is coming back and in all the research she is working on, on. In fact the hope for a better future actually drives her to work harder and makes her character more compassionate and humane. And then there is the brother, having lost a child and all his livelihood, is like the representation of the state of the planet in the movie. Worn down, unpromising and working for the end, the brother shows what living with no hope can do to a person.
Matt Damon’s performance is short lived and diabolical. He is representative of our survival instincts, fight or flight. I never thought I’d ever hate any of Damon’s characters!
I went to the movies expecting to witness the sci-fi blockbuster movie of the year and one of the greatest visual treats of all times. And don’t get me wrong, Interstellar definitely exceeded my expectations. But in addition to this I came back ‘schooled’ in human emotion and psychology. This movie gave me more than my money’s worth.
Interstellar is not just a movie; Interstellar showed me life.