The film explores the existential question of human solitude amidst the vastness of space and the moral dilemmas arising from individual choices.
1. Introduction
2. Synopsis
3. Memorable Scenes
4. Review
5. Conclusion
1. Introduction
"Passengers" is a sci-fi human blockbuster that depicts the fierce struggle of a man and a woman who wake up 90 years early during a 120-year hibernation journey. Starting with the groundbreaking film "Alien" in 1979 and continuing with "Avatar" and other sci-fi movies, the film draws inspiration from the common motif of hibernation space travel. Although real-life space travel at the level depicted in movies like this still seems far off for us, given the pace of technological advancement, it may not be as distant a future event as we think.
The movie evokes a sense of loneliness amidst the emptiness of space. It makes us realize that in a solitary world, wealth and luxury hold little to no value.
The film delves into the 'essence' of humanity. Simultaneously, it offers us a new 'life blueprint' aboard the Avalon, suggesting that 'life,' much like the passengers aboard the ship, may be pre-designed. In fact, the journey of the Avalon, carrying passengers with various dreams into space, serves as a metaphor for our lonely lives, driven solely by 'goals.' This is clearly articulated by Aurora's line, "We're passengers on a designed life." Perhaps we are entering a 'long hibernation' for the sake of 'achieving goals' and missing out on something truly important.
Synopsis
There was a man. He was a passenger on a spaceship leaving Earth for dreams and hopes. However, unfortunately, he cannot go to that planet. He woke up 90 years earlier than other passengers. In the infinite universe and on the massive spaceship, all that remained for him were infinite despair, loneliness, frustration, and a talking robot.
In the pitch-dark space, he could only contemplate death. One day, he notices Aurora, one of the passengers. Although he thinks of her as an escape from loneliness, love, and hope, he cannot do so. It would be murder.
However, amidst eternal and infinite loneliness and despair, he ultimately succumbs to the primal instinct of humanity. In the end, he awakens Aurora, barely concealing his guilt, and falls in love with her.
Was this happiness? It was a desperate desire for love and hope, but his eyes could not hide the guilt. Eventually, when the secret between them was revealed, Aurora shouted at him, calling him a murderer, and avoided him. However, before the shock of the secret had fully dissipated, they discovered that the spaceship they were on was sinking.
He truly loved Aurora, and as part of his guilt for waking her up, he sacrifices himself. Even Aurora, who had hated him so much, imagines herself being left alone and finally understands Jim's actions in that moment.
Fortunately, the sinking spaceship returns to its original course, and Jim, who risked his life using a medical hibernation pod, suggests to Aurora that she can take hibernation again. But what choice did Aurora make?
Now, they continue their love story in the infinite space aboard the massive spaceship. With over 5000 passengers aboard the ship, in the infinite expanse of space, there are only two of them.
While set against the backdrop of space and events unfolding aboard a spaceship, in reality, the setting of space in this film is mainly used to establish the premise of waking up alone due to malfunctioning hibernation pods. Other than that, space doesn't hold much significance. The same situations could occur on Earth without significantly altering the flow or themes of the movie.
Thus, what sets this film apart from other sci-fi space movies is the scenes that delve into contemplation of human existence rather than focusing solely on the space setting or advanced technology.
One particularly memorable scene is when the protagonist wakes up. Guided by mechanical sounds, he roams around the spaceship. He discovers the startling fact that he is the only passenger left on the ship. The film raises questions through his bewildered expression. It had previously hinted at the spaceship colliding with 'meteoroids,' naturally leading the audience to expect that Jim is the sole survivor. Jim seems to share that vague suspicion. However, as Jim enters the central hall, he realizes an unexpected truth: he is not the sole survivor but rather the only one awakened. Astonished, Jim tries fixing the hibernation pods, knocking on the crew's quarters as an extension, and even venting his frustration to Arthur (Michael Sheen). The 'crisis' in the movie truly comes unexpectedly. Jim spends a lonely year like that.
Jim's experience of waking up alone on the spaceship and feeling 'loneliness' is truly universal. The film painstakingly gives tangible form to this 'loneliness.' Jim goes mad. After resigning himself, he tries to enjoy his life following Arthur's advice. However, after a dive into the empty space as his backdrop, Jim's ultimate decision is 'suicide.' Jim, considering throwing himself into space without relying on the 'tether.' Surrendering and complying do not overcome the fundamental 'loneliness.' That's the crucial difference between 'Jim,' the human, and 'Arthur,' the machine. Through the 'loneliness,' the film prompts a reflection on what it means to be 'human,' contrasting it with Arthur's adept handling of the situation.
Aurora's reaction upon awakening isn't much different from Jim's. She is disheartened. The loss of 'purpose' manifests deep despair. She tries to fix the hibernation pods like Jim, knocking on the crew's quarters as an extension. Although she wants to adapt to 'reality' with Jim's help, such efforts are futile. Aurora's 'loneliness' begins to diminish when she starts to realize the presence of Jim.
The reason why one cannot easily condemn Jim's actions lies here. Jim's act of waking up Aurora is clearly a 'crime.' It's akin to 'murder.' However, anyone watching the movie wouldn't easily cast stones at Jim for such actions. It's because they understand the terror of being 'alone.' Anyone in the same situation as Jim would likely behave similarly. Gus Mancuso's (Laurence Fishburne) unexpected response to Aurora's question, "Do you know what Jim did?" is revealing. Gus acknowledges that Jim's actions were wrong but refrains from condemning him easily. Gus understands well what it means for 'humans' to be 'left alone.'
Memorable scenes
The premise of the protagonist being trapped alone for 90 years due to the malfunction of the hibernation pods on a pioneering spaceship was incredibly fresh and intriguing. While it felt a bit contrived that only one hibernation pod malfunctioned amidst major asteroid impacts on the main systems, I appreciate how this setup allowed for a deeper exploration of adaptation, loneliness, and wandering.
The protagonist, left alone aboard the spaceship, begins to accept reality and soon adapts. He starts to enjoy his solitude, exercising, watching movies, and indulging in delicious meals, making full use of the luxurious facilities on the spaceship. However, as the year passes, the extreme loneliness drives him to wake up Aurora, the female protagonist. Upon realizing the truth later, 'Aurora' accuses him of being a murderer.
Considering that human lifespan is unlikely to exceed 90 years and the probability of survival upon arrival at a new pioneering planet is very low, waking someone from hibernation is essentially sentencing them to death, akin to committing murder. In fact, when the protagonist wakes up Aurora, her life is essentially predetermined. The dream of reaching a new planet and drawing a new future fades away, leaving her stranded on the spaceship, trying to spend the rest of her life somehow. I couldn't help but wonder if I could accept such a situation. While the protagonist may have made a mistake, could Aurora not resent someone who deliberately woke her up?
Watching the movie initially, I kept pondering, which led me to watch it twice to fully grasp it. The thoughts that kept arising were related to the theme of the movie. What if I were in that situation?
Reflecting on the protagonist's situation, it seems that the only thing lacking is the companionship of others. There is no shortage of anything else. One can do whatever they want, sleep as much as they want, exercise, enjoy the luxurious facilities, read books, watch movies, cook, manage their body, gaze at space through the window, have a drink, and even converse with robots. No one nagging, no fear of starving without work. Occasionally, looking out into space, one can find solace and engage in various activities.
Passengers: Reflections
What if, in the same situation, I were not on a spaceship but in a regular society where I could interact with people anytime? It might seem absurd in such a scenario. However, even when everyone else disappears, the situation feels despairing.
In reality, many people hardly engage in conversations except when buying things. Would people who lead solitary lives like the protagonist enjoy or dislike the solitary life he leads?
Homebodies often find going out tiring and need time to recharge after meeting people outside. They enjoy lounging at home, watching dramas, ordering food, and reading books. Would they like or dislike being in a situation like the protagonist? Are humans inherently creatures that need to be intertwined with others in some way? It makes one think deeply.
Furthermore, this movie also seems to warn against the dangers of 'blind faith in science and technology.'
When the protagonist first wakes up from hibernation and reveals this fact, whether to android robots or the guidance system, all systems within the spaceship unequivocally deny it, refusing to listen to the protagonist. And when the protagonist sends a message from the spaceship to Earth and receives a reply, it takes over 70 years, indicating a lack of proper solutions when problems arise. These flaws stem from blindly believing that such things would never happen. However, what was thought to never happen actually did. Tragedy ensued from that moment. Although it's a cinematic setup, it's still worth noting.
If this movie differs from other traditional sci-fi genres, it's in portraying the ordinary people, not scientists or astronauts, aboard Avalon. Passengers diverges from traditional sci-fi narratives that focus on professionals fighting space disasters, instead portraying how ordinary people can change when confronted with space disasters dramatically. The story of this movie shows that the unknown space can function as a more desperate place than any actual existing disaster. At the end of the sharp story, the movie's message is felt: 'Nevertheless, we must live, and we must preserve our human worth.'
While watching the movie, I often found myself pondering if I were on the spaceship. Trapped in my own space within the spaceship. There are times when I feel like I'm in a situation similar to Robinson Crusoe, lost within the spaceship. It's a movie atmosphere that makes me wonder what would happen if I were to get lost in a spaceship. And I also got the impression that this movie metaphorically represents our lives as a spaceship. Our lives are a long journey with an uncertain end. There's nowhere to run. We barely manage to meet someone and live, bickering along the way. While everyone may have their own goals, how many will truly achieve them magnificently? Although it may be boring and frustrating to wake up in the middle, having someone by your side makes it a truly happy journey. Perhaps we are all passengers on a predetermined journey.
Concluding Thoughts on Passengers
If you view the movie as a romance thriller, you can enjoy it with curiosity about whether a relationship that started with one person's selfish choice will end happily. However, if you think of it as a sci-fi genre, you might find it lacking in flashy spaceships and visuals. Depending on the story, the fluctuating technological prowess of Avalon, the crises resolved too easily as the protagonists desire, etc., can leave some dissatisfaction.
And at the end, there's a scene where the crew wakes up and sees trees and birds that have grown inside the spaceship. Instead of being moved by it, I couldn't help but think, 'What kind of nonsense is this?' 'How can they grow without soil?' 'Is the spaceship okay with roots penetrating it?' Although these are very unnecessary concerns, it felt like an attempt to overcome the limitations of the spaceship, fitting detailed settings into the overarching story without any explanation.
However, above all, I believe the message of the movie is clear. No matter how much wealth and luxury you bring, the question remains: can humans truly live alone? This made me deeply contemplate.
