“I never want to go to space.”
That was my first thought as Kat and I emerged from the cinemas at Macquarie Centre.
We’d just seen Gravity, a film in which two people are left adrift in space when an accident destroys their shuttle. The two people are medical engineer Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock) and astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney). To get a feel for the kind of film it is, you can watch the trailer here.
Critics are raving about Gravity (it currently has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and for good reason too. The film has a unique premise, well-conceived characters brought to life by compelling acting, and jaw-droppingly incredible cinematography that made watching a thoroughly immersive experience. For much of the film, I felt as though I were right up there in space. And it was terrifying.
Hence why, I never want to go to space.
Terror aside, I thought Gravity was a fascinating look at the human will to survive. (Warning: spoilers ahead.)
Talking with Kat, we both agreed that the interpretive key to the film lay in the conversation Stone has with Kowalski when she is near-death and he tells her that she can either give up and die in space or “take the ride” and make it back home. The tone of this conversation is unusual. Kowalski doesn’t deliver the motivational talk we might’ve expected; there are no “you’re not a coward” or “make your life count” words here. Instead, Kowalski calmly assures Stone that if she chooses to die, he’ll understand. She’s had a tough life, and here in space, there is relief from that.
Stone has had a tough life. Earlier in the film we learn that her 4-year old daughter died in a schoolyard accident, something Stone has never been able to recover from. As a means of coping, she mechanically follows the same routine day after day: she wakes up, she goes to work and she drives.
All this makes Stone’s eventual decision to “take the ride” somewhat curious, if not surprising. Usually when people fight for their lives it’s because they feel they have something or someone to live for. What is it that Stone chooses to live for? There are no hints of anything throughout the film. It seems that Stone chooses to live simply because it’s better to live than to die.
But what kind of a choice is that? At one level, it makes perfect sense (human survival instinct and all) but at another, the open-endedness of it is deeply unsatisfying. Without any solid reasons to live, why wouldn’t Stone have just given up? Why would she have fought so hard to make it back to earth, when there’s nothing there for her?
To be honest, I’m not sure.
When the Apostle Paul was faced with the prospect of his own death, he was not nearly as ambiguous about the choice before him. Here’s what he says in his letter to the Philippians.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Philippians 1:21-26
For Paul, the decision to live had nothing to do with the human survival instinct. Nor was it motivated by a fear of death. Rather, Paul admits he’d prefer to die so that he can go and be with His Lord! And yet, having said this, he is very clear about why he chooses to live: for the sake of the Philippians. Paul’s decision to live is a decision to continue serving others.
Those sentiments resonate with the desires I have for my own life. What about yours?
For more reflections on Gravity, read Justine Toh’s excellent piece here.
Life as a mist 