Meanwhile on Earth
| Meanwhile on Earth | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical film poster | |
| French | Pendant ce temps sur terre |
| Directed by | Jérémy Clapin |
| Written by | Jérémy Clapin |
| Produced by | Marc du Pontavice |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Robrecht Heyvaert |
| Edited by | Jean Christophe Bouzy |
| Music by | Dan Levy |
Production company | One World Films |
| Distributed by | Diaphana Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Meanwhile on Earth (French: Pendant ce temps sur terre) is a 2024 French science fiction drama film directed by Jérémy Clapin. The film starring Megan Northam as Elsa, revolves around an 'absent' hero, Franck, who disappeared during a space mission three years ago. His sister Elsa who was very close to him, find it difficult to continue her life, till one day she is contacted by an alien life form.[1]
It was selected in the Panorama section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and was screened on 16 February 2024.[2]
Cast[edit]
- Megan Northam as Elsa
- Catherine Salée as Annick
- Sam Louwyck as Daniel
- Roman Williams as Vincent
- Sofia Lesaffre as Audrey
- Nicolas Avinée as Augustin
- Yoann Thibaut Mathias as Jordan
- Arcadi Radeff as Luc
- Yoan Germain Le mat as Franck
- Sabine Timoteo as Sidonie
- Dimitri Doré
Production[edit]
Meanwhile on Earth, the second feature film and first fiction film of Jérémy Clapin, is produced by Marc du Pontavice for One World Films.[3]
Filming began from 30 August 2022 and was finished around October 2022 in communes of Puy de Dôme viz.: Clermont-Ferrand and its surrounds, Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, Royat, the forest in Orcines, the crater lake in Gour de Tazenat, and in Paris and Belgium.[4]
Release[edit]
Meanwhile on Earth had its world premiere in February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Panorama.[5][6][7]
It will be released theatrically on 1 May 2024 in France by Diaphana Distribution.[8]
It will compete in the International Competition at 39th Mons International Film Festival held from 8 to 16 March 2024.[9]
Reception[edit]
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 80% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[10]
Jordan Mintzer reviewing for The Hollywood Reporter termed the film as "Visually impressive, if not fully grounded". Concluding, Mintzer praised Dan Levy for his "dreamy score" and Clapin’s visual talents and wrote, Meanwhile on Earth takes us beyond our desolate everyday lives to a place we can indeed dream of — and also witness on screen."[11]
Damon Wise opined that the writer-director Jérémy Clapin improvised Jean Cocteau’s 1950 classic Orphée and giving it a "very modern makeover", explores concept of grief with Meanwhile on Earth "in a strange, poetic, and endearingly surreal meditation on the counter-intuitive ways in which we react when confronted with loss." Wise praised Megan Northam, the lead star, writing, "Northam holds it all together with a mixture of surface strength and inner vulnerability like a brass-knuckle Léa Seydoux". In his review at Berlinale for Deadline he said, "Whether any part of this story is objectively “real” or not: planet earth is blue, and there’s nothing we can do."[12]
Fabien Lemercier reviewing the film at Berlinale for Cineuropa wrote, "The film is an astonishing and abundant patchwork concealing countless themes beneath its stressfully entertaining exterior, which is carved up by three brilliantly executed animated sequences, enveloped in Dan Levy ’s formidable music." Lemercier concluded the review opining, "No doubt Jérémy Clapin will refine many elements even further during his next awaited voyage into the galaxy of fiction."[13]
Writing for RogerEbert.com, Robert Daniels was more critical of the film, lamenting that the film is a "frustrating watch precisely because the elements are there, but they’ve been poorly configured, restricted from unleashing the freakishly bloody onslaught being teased."[14]
Accolades[edit]
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 25 February 2024 | Panorama Audience Award for Best Feature Film | Jérémy Clapin | Nominated | [15] |
References[edit]
- ^ Scott Roxborough (14 December 2023). "Saoirse Ronan-Starrer 'The Outrun' Leads Berlin Panorama Lineup". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (17 January 2024). "The Panorama strand of the Berlinale to open with Levan Akin's Crossing". Cineuropa. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Meanwhile on Earth". Unifrance. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (13 October 2022). "End of filming in sight for Jérémy Clapin's Meanwhile on Earth". Cineuropa. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (14 December 2023). "Berlin: Saoirse Ronan, Danielle Deadwyler & Paapa Essiedu Titles Set For Panorama Sidebar". Deadline. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (17 January 2024). "Berlinale unveils complete 2024 Panorama, Generation, Forum sections". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Meanwhile on Earth". Berlinale. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Pendant ce temps sur terre, Un film de Jérémy Clapin" [Meanwhile on Earth]. Diaphana (in French). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Engelen, Aurore (11 March 2024). "The curtain rises on the 39th Mons Love International Film Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Meanwhile on Earth (2024, Drama/Sci-fi)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Jordan Mintzer (16 February 2024). "'Meanwhile on Earth' Review: Jeremy Clapin's Latest Combines Shaky Sci-Fi Storytelling and Arresting Imagery". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Wise, Damon (16 February 2024). "'Meanwhile On Earth' Review: An Endearingly Surreal Meditation On Loss – Berlin Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (16 February 2024). "Review: Meanwhile on Earth". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Daniels, Robert. "Berlin Film Festival 2024: Meanwhile on Earth, La Cocina, Another End | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (17 January 2024). "Berlinale Unveils Full Panorama, Forum & Generation Line-Ups With New Films By Nathan Silver, Levan Akin, André Téchiné & Bruce LaBruce". Deadline. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Meanwhile on Earth at IMDb
- Meanwhile on Earth at AlloCiné (in French)
- Meanwhile on Earth at Rotten Tomatoes
- Meanwhile on Earth at Berlinale
