Mars Express is a futuristic detective story about the autonomy of synthetic beings — which is to say, it’s the latest in a long line of sci-fi influenced by Ghost in the Shell and Blade Runner. But while its premise may be familiar, the movie makes up for it with style and energy. The debut feature from director Jérémie Périn, Mars Express features absolutely stunning 2D animation, a fully realized world, and a pulse-pounding story that kept me guessing right until the end.
It’s set in 2200, a point in time when Earth is described as a “slum for the unemployed,” while Mars has become somewhat better… at least for the rich, who live in what’s best described as a futuristic vision of the suburbs under a protective dome with bright screens that mask the outside world. Complicating the social dynamics are synthetic life-forms, which come in various flavors. There are typical robots used to do menial and service jobs, with some humans fighting to liberate them and one megacorporation trying to phase the machines out in favor of organic versions. Meanwhile, there are also “backups,” androids with the memories and personalities of deceased humans, who must follow a strict set of Isaac Asimov-like rules.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Mars Express is a futuristic detective story about the autonomy of synthetic beings — which is to say, it’s the latest in a long line of sci-fi influenced by Ghost in the Shell and Blade Runner.
It’s set in 2200, a point in time when Earth is described as a “slum for the unemployed,” while Mars has become somewhat better… at least for the rich, who live in what’s best described as a futuristic vision of the suburbs under a protective dome with bright screens that mask the outside world.
They end up taking a job to find a missing university student, which — in the grand tradition of these stories — pulls them into a much bigger mystery involving the fate of all synthetic beings and, since we’ve become so dependent on them, humanity as well.
It starts out as a seemingly simple missing persons investigation, but as Aline and Carlos learn more, it becomes something much more elaborate due to an event called “the takeover” that eventually shifts the tone, giving it a more philosophical note.
This is especially true of the different synthetics — the rugged older models, the sleek androids, the unsettling organic blobs — which paint a picture of the changing technological needs of this time.
The worldbuilding also makes for some relatable moments, like how Carlos — stuck in an aging robotic frame — keeps missing firmware updates because his memory is full or the way Aline, a recovering alcoholic, is constantly thwarted by smart liquor bottles that won’t let her drink.
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Yeahz looking forward to that one. It looks like it’s getting in international release, so I’m hopeful I might somehow be able to see it.
Cool! Hopefully it will come here too.
I’ve only just heard of it but it looks really good. I like the OG Ghost in the Shell a lot so they sort of had me at that comparison, but the premise sounds super interesting.
