Orbiter 9
| Orbiter 9 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Hatem Khraiche |
| Written by | Hatem Khraiche |
| Produced by | Christian Conti Miguel Menendez de Zubilaga Gabriel Arias-Salgado |
| Starring | Clara Lago Álex González |
| Cinematography | Pau Esteve |
| Edited by | Antonio Frutos |
| Music by | Federico Jusid |
| Distributed by | Cactus Flower Dynamo Mono Films Telefonica Studios |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Countries | Spain Colombia |
| Language | Spanish |
Orbiter 9 (Template:Lang-es) is a 2017 science fiction romantic drama directed by Hatem Khraiche[1] in his directorial debut. It stars Clara Lago and Alex Gonzalez. The film premiered in Spain on April 7, 2017.
Plot
Helena is a 20-something woman who has lived her whole life on the Orbiter 9 space station. Her parents had told her, by archived video, their intent to commit suicide so that Helena could survive, due to an urgent depletion of oxygen. The orbiter's computer, Rebecca, cared for her. With oxygen levels low, another spaceship docks with hers and a maintenance engineer named Alex boards for repairs. She later enters his sleeping quarters, convincing him to make love to her as it may be her only opportunity ever. When he returns to his ship, Alex rides an elevator and emerges... on Earth, in the middle of a wooded, guarded research compound. He drives to the main building and reports to scientist Hugo, head of one of four sites on Earth experimenting on humans in the interest of an eventual mission to reach Celeste, a habitable planet orbiting Alpha Centuri, since Earth's oceans are poisoned. Hugo reports to Katherine, the worldwide Program Director.
Alex has been depressed since a spaceship he designed, to reach Celeste, exploded with a full test crew onboard. Hugo reminds him that departure is 20 years away, and accidents are inevitable. Alex regularly visits Silvia, a therapist, and finally tells her about his feelings for Helena. Alex returns to a startled Helena in his normal Earth clothes and reveals the truth of her situation. He manipulates her video and bio-feeds, so no one at mission control will know she is gone, and smuggles her to his apartment. Alex exposes her to the world, even going to a bar with his friends, including Xiao, a doctor. When Helena develops a rash on her shoulder, Alex takes her to Xiao. Xiao is suspicious of how her skin appears to have never been exposed to sunlight, but promises to get back to them with his test results. While Alex is away, Helena explores the apartment. She discovers a hidden room with computer screens showing there are 10 identical Orbiter simulators under Hugo's management.
Using the address on documents from the room, she hunts down her parents, who are married program scientists not related to her. They explain that the 10 subjects are clones of people dead for two generations. The 'father' handcuffs her to a railing so he can call the authorities, but the 'mother' knocks him out and lets Helena escape. Helena returns to Alex, extremely upset with him, but trusts his apologies. Alex reaches out to Silvia for help; she offers to hide them in an apartment she owns in a crowded slum. Hugo, leading the manhunt, searches Alex's apartment and finds Silvia's contact data. While Alex and Helena pick up the key from Silvia, Hugo and his guards arrive. Hugo, suspecting the couple is hiding there, shoots Silvia in the head, causing Helena to cry out. The two flee over the slum rooftops. Helena injures her leg and later insists Alex jump across a rooftop, to show her how it is done, but she never intended to follow and is captured. Alex is able to escape, while Helena is taken to Hugo. Katherine orders Hugo to terminate Helena, as a failed experiment.
Alex hears from Xiao, who updates him on Helena's medical condition. Alex rushes to the Control Center and is captured attempting to reach Hugo. Alex informs Hugo of the news he learned from Xiao – Helena is six weeks pregnant. Hugo and Katherine agree that the Project can gain valuable insights by observing a real birth and subsequent growth of a family group inside Orbiter 9. Helena tells Hugo she has one condition if she and Alex are to return to Orbiter 9. Some years later, a young woman exits Orbiter 9 and is greeted by a happy but aged Hugo. She looks up at the sky as the first spaceships lift off to Celeste. A single figure, not revealed as Helena or Alex, steps out behind the young woman.
Cast
- Clara Lago as Helena
- Álex González as Alex
- Andrés Parra as Hugo
- Belén Rueda as Silvia
- Kristina Lilley as Katherine
- John Alex Castillo as Dr. Xiao
- Fernando Campo as Helena's Father
- Sara Deray as Helena's Mother
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 5.5/10.[2]
Awards and nominations
- Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (Best European Film) — nominated[3]
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Nueva Vision Award) — nominated
See also
References
- ^ Hopewell, John (13 February 2016). "Telefonica Studios Furthers Drive Into Latin America". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Orbiter 9 (Órbita 9) (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Orbiter 9". Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
External links
- RodDoor Replica Courtesy of Klemens Torggler (http://www.torggler.co.at/)