THE COLONY/ TIDES

Switzerland/Germany, 2021, 104 minutes, Colour.

Nora Arnezeder, Iain Glen, Sarah-Sofie Boussninia, Sope Dirisu, Sebastian Roche, Joel Basman, Kotti Yun, Eden Gough.

Directed by Tim Fehlbaum.

There seems to be a large contingent of fans for films about outer space. There are films about space exploration. There are films about space colonisation. There are films that aim at reality. There are many more that have the elements of science fiction, even science-fantasy.

 TID/

The Colony (aka Tides, acknowledging the watery surface of the planet and so much of the action taking place on small boats and wrecks of large ships) is somewhat different. As expected, Earth has been devastated by climate change and other catastrophes, and inhabitants have fled to a distant planet, Keppler. But, this time it is the inhabitants from Keppler who are planning to return to Earth. There has been a failed mission. The film opens as we accompany the econd mission, the small space team approaching earth and crash landing.

At the centre of the action is the astronaut with technical and medical expertise, Louise, a very strong action-hero of this kind of film, played by Nora Arnezeder. The early part of the film is quite eerie, the discovery of some human beings still on earth, living in squalor and destitution, highly suspicious of the intruders from space, imprisoning them. While the audience is wondering where this can all go, the small colony is attacked by what look like vicious pirates, a number of them taken prisoner, including a little girl who has been kind to Louise. Leadership in the colony is exercised by the little girl’s mother, fierce in her attitude, setting out to rescue her daughter and the others, Louise following.

What follows consists of revelations about the previous expedition, some success, the rounding up of young girls – with the revelation that the inhabitants of Keppler are unable to conceive children, the settlement on Keppler is about to die out, there is a need to transport these young girls from Earth back to the planet.

There are also some flashbacks to Louise as a little girl, her relationship with her scientist father, his ambitions for Keppler and going on the expedition, his mantra instilled into his daughter, not to be selfish, but everything to be “For the many”.

Louise is welcomed by the head of the mission, Gibson (Iain Glen), treated with some suspicion by his military associate, cheered by her meeting with the young girls being prepared to go to Keppler. There is also a little boy, his Chinese mother, part of the new generation on Earth.

Of course, there will be some revelations about double dealings, power grabs, the dilemma for Louise, her concern for the girl who helped her who has now become part of the group for Keppler, issues as to where her loyalties lie.

Which means that there are some fight scenes and confrontations at the end. Just as the final credits begin, there is a momentary scene indicating what the future might be.

Which also means that this is probably a film only for the space film fans.

1. The title? The colony on Earth? The alternate title, Tides? The water and the tides on Earth, the small boats, the large ships? Action on water? Underwater?
2. The future, post-apocalyptic, the inhabitants of the planet, Kepler, survival, civilisation, impotence and no further children? The missions back to earth, the first failed mission, the audience landing with the second mission?
3. The goal of the second mission, the crash landing, Louise and her abilities, medical, spacecraft, her companion, his injuries?
4. The locals, taking Louise and her partner, in the well, his death? Her coming out, wanting the equipment, the medical equipment? Her reaction to the locals, language and communication? The sympathetic little girl? The hostile woman leader?
5. The attack on the colony, seeming pirates, the violence, taking prisoners, on the boat? The woman, venturing out, Louise following her, the confrontation, knocking her unconscious, going to the ship?
6. The flashbacks, Louise as a girl, working with her father, his ambitions, skills, hopes, teaching his daughter, “For the Many”?
7. The ship, the mission from Kepler, the introduction to Gibson, his being in charge, smooth manner, sympathetic, introducing Louise to the young girls, the plan for them to go back to Kepler, his son, the Chinese mother? This singing for Louise?
8. Gibson’s assistant, violent, unpleasant, his coming on to Louise, her reaction?
9. The little girl, her being made part of the group, helping Louise? The mother? Louise later restoring her to her mother?
10. Louise, finding her father, explanations? Gibson becoming the villain?
11. The buildup to the confrontation, the fight, Gibson and Louise in the water, her killing him?
12. Survival, the woman helping Louise, the rescue of the children? And the revelation the little boy was her half-brother? His significance in the resolution of the crisis?
13. A futuristic space exploration and colonisation film for the fans?