Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth is a compelling and thought-provoking documentary film released in 2020. This creative masterpiece is directed by Matt Wolf, and it features a range of intriguing characters including Kathelin Gray, Marie Harding, and William Dempster, whose real-life experiences form the driving narrative of the movie.

The film takes its title from the idea proposed by Buckminster Fuller that the Earth is a spaceship flying through space, requiring all its inhabitants to act as the crew, responsible for its maintenance and survival. Building on this philosophy, Spaceship Earth presents a profound exploration into the world of Biosphere 2. It is not a science fiction tale, but rather an actual event in history involving an experiment that combined elements of scientific research, futurism, and performance art.

Biosphere 2 was a project launched in the early 1990s, an ambitious experiment in which eight people lived for two years in a self-engineered, closed system that replicated Earth’s biosphere in miniature. Nicknamed "biospherians," these individuals included Kathelin Gray, Marie Harding, and William Dempster. They created an artificially enclosed world that incorporated miniature versions of various world biomes, including a rainforest, an ocean with a coral reef, a desert, and an agricultural system, with the goal of exploring whether humans could sustain life independently from the Earth.

The film navigates the origin of this project, its conception, execution, and aftermath. It serves as a time capsule, taking viewers back to a completely different era. Footage from the initial days of the project is beautifully intertwined with present-day interviews and reflections, adding depth to the narrative. The film also explores the interpersonal dynamics, the science, and the vision that drove the biospherians, as well as the external scenarios that impacted the project, like media attention and criticism from the scientific community.

One of the key figures in the film is Kathelin Gray, who was part of the project's managerial team. Gray's insights into the conceptualization of Biosphere 2 provide us with a glimpse into the underlying philosophy of environmental consciousness that drove the project. Marie Harding, who was in charge of the Biosphere’s analytical chemistry lab, shares personal narratives that humanize the story. William Dempster, one of the engineers of the Biosphere, talks about the technology behind the construction of the biosphere, adding another critical layer to the film.

Spaceship Earth makes fascinating arguments for the need for radical experimentation in the face of global environmental crisis, yet it avoids passing judgment or force-feeding conclusions about the success or failure of Biosphere 2. The documentary rather espouses a sense of wonder about this grand experiment and its audacious vision.

In terms of narration and visual style, Spaceship Earth is compelling and immersive. The juxtaposition of archival footage and contemporary recounting makes the storytelling richly layered and visually dynamic. The mid-century modern aesthetic of the early days of the project, captured beautifully in film, merges seamlessly with the more polished, contemporary interviews. The musical score is fittingly ethereal, heightening the otherworldliness of this tale of early pioneers of sustainability.

While the film does delve into the controversies and criticisms that surrounded Biosphere 2, it does so without undermining the dedication and grit of those involved in the project. It showcases the creative ingenuity of the human species when faced with the challenge of survival and sustainability, a theme that has gained urgency in the context of current environmental and climatic crises.

In many ways, Spaceship Earth is not just about the Biosphere 2 experiment itself, but about the larger questions of ecological interdependence, human survival, and the boundaries of scientific exploration. It is an engaging look at how a group of dreamers and thinkers sought to redefine our relationship with our planet. It is an inspiring testament to human adaptability, the pioneering spirit, and the transformative power of bold ideas.