Meanwhile on Earth review: New sci-fi drama deviates a bit with its story, but not with its intent

Scale is a constant challenge when telling cinematic science fiction stories. Too much scope can give the impression that your story is more focused on spectacle, while something more intimate can suggest that you don’t have a budget. Writer/director Jérémy Clapin’s Meanwhile on Earth is a picture whose plot and execution land somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The story is on the thin side, but the intention and key execution that tell the story remain clear.

Meanwhile on Earth (Hanger ce temps sur terre)

An angry-looking Megan Northam leads a man through the woods in Meanwhile On Earth. — (Image credit: One World Films)

Release date: November 8, 2024
Directed by: Jérémy Clapin
Written by: Jérémy Clapin
Starring: Megan Northam, Yoan Germain Lemat, Catherine Salée and Sam Louwyck
Judgement: R for violent content and language.
Duration: 88 minutes

Sadness drives the emotional thread that runs through it Meanwhile on Earthas we follow main character Elsa (Megan Northam) as she copes with the disappearance of her astronaut brother (Yoan Germain Lemat) during a mission. In the midst of this effort, a strange phenomenon seems to reconnect the two siblings in the vastness of space.

That event is what drives most of Jérémy Clapin’s film, and it’s what drives the ingenuity in the storytelling and manifests the misadventures in how things unfold. Meanwhile on Earth is very effective at conveying the story on an intimate scale, but it becomes thin around the edges. The final product is still a promising debut for both IT star and director, as their debut in live-action feature films also helps bridge some gaps.

Meanwhile, On Earth is a beautiful lo-fi sci-fi journey, for better or for worse.

The film chooses to work on the more character-oriented end of the scale, but there’s still some unique visual flair to show off Meanwhile on Earth. Interspersed with animated sequences showing Elsa’s daydreams about flying through space with her brother, our director’s experience in animation is used as a way to illustrate a glimpse into our main character’s headspace.

Such a touch helps anchor the overall concept of the film, which is simple yet profound. The relatively short 88-minute length of Jérémy Clapin’s first live-action picture gives Elsa a quest that may or may not reunite her with her deceased brother. However, that task does come with some obligations, such as Meanwhile on Earth takes the oft-heard consolation of “nothing can bring them back” and asks a pretty big question: How far would you go if you could?

Your mileage will certainly vary Meanwhile on Earth thanks to its lo-fi approach to both storytelling and spectacle. While the impulse I just described is artfully approached, the overall story doesn’t grow or develop in the way you want. Ambiguity pervades most of the events that play out, with a ticking clock only being introduced in the third act to build more tension. Due to the relative lack of commitment for most of the running time, the first two acts float in a more free style without structure. Uncertainty doesn’t ruin things Meanwhile on Earth in the long term, but it does raise more questions than answers.

With their feature debut, Megan Northam and Jérémy Clapin make an impressive impression through Tussen On Earth.

Meanwhile on Earth gives the audience an identifiable journey of emotional stakes to think about, while also avoiding the pitfall of becoming too melodramatic. Elsa’s journey is recognizable and moving, which is further depicted by Megan Northam’s amazing performance. Sadness is a recognizable component that is felt at all times, but that specific note is not just hammered home.

Although Northam has shown himself to be a new talent in the acting field, Jérémy Clapin’s debut as a live-action director is just as remarkable. Perhaps best known for his Academy Award-nominated animated film I lost my bodyClapin’s eye for animation is valuable when it comes to the visual component of Meanwhile on Earth. Hand in hand with its shortcomings, there is an impressive economy to the story told in this film, as the lush visuals and compelling narrative fly by at an impressive clip.

The brisk pace does help ensure that we don’t get too much time to delve into the game’s deeper moments Meanwhile on Earth. The moral reckoning and drive that should have been present throughout the story only begins to manifest itself in the film’s final act, and even then not enough is given to build or resolve in a way that’s entirely satisfying is. That said, the combined novelty of Megan Northam and Jérémy Clapin’s burgeoning talents enhances the existing story, turning a collection of concepts from disparate sources into something freshly cathartic.

In the meantime, On Earth is a good start for some potentially promising voices in the science fiction genre.

Meanwhile on Earth is a solid science fiction story that gives us a different look at loss and what we do in the aftermath. In a film genre that has effectively explored the human condition for decades, it’s wonderful to see filmmakers still finding nuanced ways to continue exploring the fantastic and inexplicable. By that criterion alone, the resulting film is a resounding success, but the flaws in the story’s resolution are too great to ignore.

That’s not to say this isn’t a worthwhile film. Visually stunning and conceptually unique, the French thriller can effectively captivate you. That is, as long as your threshold for unexplained phenomena is set high enough that you don’t look for answers beyond what’s on screen.

Perhaps the best thing to come out of this exercise is the collaboration between Jérémy Clapin and Megan Northam. Their combined talents form a director/star dynamic that makes the most of what Meanwhile on Earth has to offer, and the picture that emerges from their collaboration is an enchanting story, even in its vaguest form.