March 19, 2026
Voyagers is a science fiction film which deals with some critical moral issues arising from contemporary reproductive technology and challenges us to consider the following question:
What if there were no families?
The plot: Earth is dying, ravaged by drought and disease. Scientists search for another planet that can sustain life and in 2063, they find it. An expedition is planned to transplant select members of the human race to ensure its survival, but the problem is that the journey will take 86 years. This means that the astronauts must reproduce on the ship and it is likely that only their grandchildren will be the ones to see the new planet and establish a colony.
The voyagers must have no earthly emotional attachments that might undermine their acceptance of their fate, so it is decided to selectively breed the crew using in vitro fertilization, artificial wombs and eugenics. They are born without families and raised in isolation. The mission proceeds and 30 children are launched into space along with one adult (Richard played by Colin Farrell) who goes along as a guardian/father figure.
What could possibly go wrong?
It doesn’t take long for us to find out. The movie fast forwards 10 years and the travelers are young adults. The story has thematic elements reminiscent of Brave New World, Lord of the Flies and even Alien. But the central theme is conveyed in a scene where the two main characters ponder their situation when their curiosity is aroused after they view photographs of Richard’s family.
Sela: That’s Richard when he was ten. That’s his sister. That’s his parents.
Christopher: His parents?
Sela: We only have genetic donors.
Christopher: It’s the same.
Sela: Is it?
Christopher: We still get our natures from them.
There is no reference to religion or God but the movie does deal with serious existential questions and it grapples thoughtfully with the problem of the existence of evil. As things are spiraling out of control and the mission descends into chaos and violence, one of the characters(Phoebe) challenges her crew mates with a desperate appeal to reason or logos.
Phoebe: Have you all gone crazy? Have you? Don’t you see? All of this is against our nature. This is not who we are.
Zac: This is who we are.
Phoebe: But we don’t have to act this way. We can think. We can decide to be different.
Crew member: Shut up you genetic defect.
Phoebe: We can decide which is better.
Crew: Shut up.
Phoebe: Let me speak. We’re trying to make sense here, and you’re not listening.
Crew: Shut up!
Phoebe: Which is better? To have rules and agree, or to run wild and fight.
Crew: To run wild!
Phoebe: Do you want to listen to reason and figure out a plan….?
Don’t miss this sleeper of a sci-fi fantasy which deals with real world questions regarding the abuse of science and technology when human life is diminished and people are seen as objects to be manipulated for the “greater good.”
Note: parents should screen the film but it is probably fine for mature teens.
