Voyagers

Voyagers is a captivating sci-fi thriller film released in 2021, directed and written by Neil Burger. The movie stars Colin Farrell, Tye Sheridan, and Lily-Rose Depp.

Set in the not-too-distant future, Voyagers examines humanity's quest to find a new home as the Earth becomes less and less hospitable due to climate change and several other catastrophic events. As scientists discover a planet that's suitable for human life, they face a daunting challenge - the journey will take 86 long years. To ensure the survival of the human race, they come up with a plan called 'The Human Project.'

This plan involves creating and raising genetically engineered children who are highly intelligent and physically robust. These advanced children are then sent on a space journey to the inhabitable planet. These children are brought up and trained without any connection to the Earth. They are taught about their duty to humanity and the purity of their mission is heavily emphasized. They are entirely isolated from the normal emotional bonds or social structures to avoid distractions and conflicts.

In the movie, Colin Farrell plays the role of Richard, a compassionate scientist who oversees the training and upbringing of the children. He is the only adult figure in the spacecraft who guides them and helps them to understand their mission. Among the young voyagers, we get to know Christopher (played by Tye Sheridan) and Zac (Fionn Whitehead) more closely. Although they are born to be a part of the mission, the friendship they develop and the affection that emerges between Christopher and Sela (Lily-Rose Depp), shows their human side.

As they are stuck in a spacecraft, devoid of any kind of entertainment or distraction, they are administered a blue drink that suppresses their natural desires. But things start to unravel when two of the crew members, Christopher and Zac, stop taking their drink and discover emotions and sensations that have been hidden their entire lives.

The film describes the enthralling journey of these space explorers as they begin to explore their humanity, indulging in the primal nature, and navigate through their feelings in a contained environment. They discover the existence of power, fear, lust, and how human emotions can both beautifully and savagely tear a society apart. The human experience suddenly becomes a strange and unfamiliar terrain for these young, bright minds to navigate.

In the midst of all the confusion, the lives of the entire crew are endangered when they also realize that they might not be alone on the ship. The tight containment of their spaceship provides an eerie backdrop to explore this unfolding power struggle, as paranoia and mistrust sweep through the group of voyagers.

The film seamlessly moves between the genres of sci-fi, thriller, and drama, with the director maintaining a steady balance. Burger's mastery over the narrative makes viewers question moral choices and ponder the consequences of our actions. The cinematography, especially the visual representation of outer space, adds depth to the sense of loneliness and isolation felt by the characters. The script is crisp and engaging, with young actors delivering performances that blur the line between the innocence of youth and the complexity of adulthood's emotional landscape.

Voyagers bring forth interesting and dramatic questions about humanity, its essence, its future, and how far we might go to ensure our survival. This film does not just focus on the imminent physical journey to a new home but also ventures into the psychological landscapes, making this film more than just a space adventure.

As Voyagers prods us to question 'what makes us human', it also allows us to journey alongside these young explorers who are forced into adulthood prematurely. They experience human nature in its rawest form - power struggles, survival instinct, desire, betrayal, and trust. It’s an engaging mix of chilling suspense and intriguing examination of the human condition, making it a must-watch for lovers of thought-provoking cinema.