Spoilers can’t hear you scream.

It’s refreshing to find a science fiction feature that knows the classic genre. Hard sci-fi is rare. It’s where the biggest threat is not an alien civilization or intergalactic war, but the old survival trope of man vs environment. Perhaps it’s my current mood after watching some lousy films, but this felt like a breath of fresh air. This about limitations, resources, travel, oxygen and, of course, politics.

(Source: IFC Midnight)

Rubikon (2022) was directed by Magdalena Lauritsch who wrote it with Jessica Lind. Commander Hannah Wagner (Julia Franz Richter) takes command of experimental orbiting space station Rubikon along with scientist Gavin Abbott (George Blagden). Staying behind from the previous team, is Dr. Dimitry Krylow (Mark Ivanir) who’s been heading the project since its inception to develop an algae that sustains both the station’s environment and the crew in a closed ecosystem.

The rich and privileged live inside dome cities where they’re safe from the contaminated earth. The world is divided into companies, each one fighting the other for control of the remaining resources. We learn a lot of these politics as we slowly learn of each crew member’s agenda. Company espionage, ties to ecological freedom fighter movements and other hidden motives seem to come in conflict until the main triggering event happens. A toxic fog envelops Earth. Communications are compromised. Now we’re got a film.

It works. This is one of those films made for a certain nerdy crowd where the politics are broken down to its bare bones. There’s a point where the titles, ranks and protocol go out the window and there’s just three people there. I’ve already said too much. The audience for this movie is out there and they can count me in. This is really a political and moral drama about resources and survival. Yes, technology can go far but when there’s not much left to share and little time, there’s some tough choices to make.

Highly recommended for the hardcore science fiction audience. I think if you like political dramas you probably will also enjoy it, so this might have a wider audience than I give it credit for. It’s not a mainstream heavy special effects action flick, and I’m not saying those don’t have a place – I’m just saying it’s nice to get the serious one for a change. Definitely worth a watch for the interested moviegoer.

That will do for now.