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Spaceship Earth
By Tara McNamara,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sci-fi gets real in eco-docu about sustainable biodome.

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Spaceship Earth
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What's the Story?
In 1991, eight "bionauts" participated in a widely publicized ecological experiment. Volunteers with expertise in agriculture, science, and medicine, they decided to step inside a terrarium called the Biosphere 2 -- which replicated the biomes of the world -- and lock the door. The plan was to see whether they could create their own oxygen, food, and water to thrive and survive -- and they mostly could. But they were plagued both by bad press and by doubt about a couple of the shortcuts they took. SPACESHIP EARTH explores how the Biosphere 2 experiment came to be, what went wrong, and what happened to the data from this study.
Is It Any Good?
Like many true stories, the epic Biosphere 2 experiment is a better legend than actuality. Director Matt Wolf slooowly unwinds how the Biosphere 2 founders came together in the late '60s and lived together on the commune known as Synergia Ranch. The group initially found purpose in acting and then in environmental construction. It's interesting, yes, but it takes a long time to get to the "BUT THEN" moment where it all falls apart, which we know is coming. When it does, it delivers a shocker from left field.
Documentaries always carry a bias, and in Spaceship Earth it's clear that Wolf is on the bionauts' side. The film is a compassionate look at people who tried, who cared, and who just lived life a little differently. They set out to accomplish tremendous goals and usually succeeded. Maybe it's thanks to the kindness of the Synergians and the biospherians, but no one has a bad word to say about anyone else -- and that's refreshing. But, notably, not all the participants were interviewed, and an active thinker has to wonder why. Wolf acknowledges but avoids turning around corners that might lead to shedding negative light on his subjects. For instance, the recounting of a showdown between leaders that involves a Judas-level betrayal ends ... in a hug. Also, several bionauts mention conflict among the group, but Wolf moves on without exploring that angle. It seems like there's more to the story -- but maybe there's not. Maybe what happened is as black and white as a children's fable. The story, as told here, is that greedy capitalists destroyed the work of kind-hearted souls who sacrificed everything to save humanity and the planet -- and perhaps that is the simple, sad truth.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the perpetual struggle between altruism and capitalism. Do you think there needs to be a profitable angle for research that benefits the world?
Do you think documentaries should be objective, or can they take a position on the story they're telling? What was the point of view of this filmmaker? Do you think the whole story has been told?
How do the Synergians use teamwork to accomplish their goals? With their long list of successfully executed projects, why do you think Biosphere 2 didn't work out as planned?
Biosphere 2 is widely considered a failure. Do you agree? Why or why not? Was it a waste of time, energy, and financial resources?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: May 8, 2020
- Cast: John Allen , Linda Leigh , Mark Nelson
- Director: Matt Wolf
- Studio: Neon
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism , History , Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 113 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 13, 2023
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