Das letzte Land

Do you like big explosions? Do you like GOOD vs EVIL? Do you like women in tight uniforms in space? Do you like fast, "exciting" plots? Do you like heartwarming interactions? Do you like everything resolved and satisfying conclusions? Do you like every single question and ambiguity answered and clarified?

Then skip this movie. Don't even look at its trailer.

However, if you like films like Tarkovsky makes, or films that are highly ambiguous, or films that leave you puzzled. Then watch this.

No. It's no "Solaris". But it's a good indie European film that thankfully doesn't explain every single thing, sucking all the mystery and interest out of the script, leaving a bland, predictable husk.

As for the negative reviews you'd see here, well, I sincerely wonder if science fiction might be held back from attaining its artistic potential because of the audience that's drawn to it. Lynch's "Dune" was widely despised. Though I am amazed that Kubrick's "2001" is well beloved, as that's filled with unanswered questions, "slow boring sequences" and such. Though it does have "the evil entity", which probably helps people navigate it.

Anyway. I liked this movie. I wish more sci-fi was like it, and less was like Disney.

I sped it up to 2x speed, which solved the slowness. The story was good. It reminds me of Moon and other bleak hard SF films that show the loneliness of space and the human condition. If mankind ever does get into space, this is probably what awaits us: unliveable planets, isolation, fear, loneliness, a longing for a home world, difficult comrades, failing technology. Don't watch this if you need cheering up or laughs. But if you like dark or hard SF with ambiguity and deeper themes, it's good. The original is German but I managed to find an English dubbed version.

I watched that film at the Berlin SciFi Filmfestival. It was late at night, dark outside and the cinema was full of people.

I love films that take place in confined spaces and I love space movies. Two men, alone on a voyage through the emptiness of space. Please don't expect some dumb action flic, because this is so much better. It is a philosophical journey, it deals with life, expectations, greed, hope and it tells us a lot about ourselves, how we treat each other and how fast we can turn on each other. If you aren't into subjects like this, you shouldn't watch it. But if you love films that are not only entertaining but have something to say, then this is a movie for you!

I love films like this and I also love awesome spaceship interiors. The design and the models are amazing, and it's even more astounding when you learn, that this is a real independent movie and that they built all the models, the interiors and even the stars themselves, without using any cgi. I wish there were more films like this, that are made with passion and a true love for cinema!

Edit: Like all good films, this one gets better with every rewatch!

This is a low budget scifi. Although the FX are relatively decent, it is filmed in a very dark settings. The story doesn't say much and most of the questions in the end, are left unanswered. At first I though it was a filming decision, but it was a budget decision. The less you explain, the less you have to show. The two actors are average at best, with some better moments. The dialogues are eclectic and miss some logic to it. The rhythm is excessively slow. I didn't enjoy the movie and skim in a lot of places. I give 4 because it's low budget and I don't know how much the story had suffer from it.

Feels more like a surreal theatre play by Beckett than like the scifi action b-movie you maybe expect. It's dark, it's an entertaining arthouse drama (which is a rare combination), it looks cool (reminded me a lot of "Alien") and it's acted pretty well.

It also has something to say. I just don't know what, yet. But I'll watch it again. Definitely.

Wait, they constructed all the sets and the miniatures in their garage??? Consider my mind blown. 😍