First year college student Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) causes accidental devastation to the family of composer John Burroughs (William Mapother), Maya Burroughs (Meggan Lennon), and their son (AJ Diana). It's a moment's distraction - with lifetime consequences for them all - caused by the appearance of a new planet parked alongside Earth.

Earth 2 looks exactly the same as Earth 1. Most likely, as a character points out, so far as Earth 2 is concerned, it's probably Earth 1. Which of the two seemingly identical planets is the original - if either? And if Earth 2 looks the same, are there people on it? The same people? Every one of us? Another Earth is about looking at ourselves from the outside - suppose that we could suddenly see ourselves as others see us? And how can someone make up for something done wrong that shatters other people's lives?

Rhoda Williams has just started at university and is full of optimism for life ahead. A remarkable event occurs - a planet exactly the same as Earth appears, resting so near that it dominates the sky. In a moment of distraction, and wholly without malice or intention, Rhoda causes a mother and son to die, and composer John Burroughs to suffer damage enough to enter a coma. She is sentenced to prison, but because she is under the age of being named in court, her name is not publicly disclosed.

After 3 years in prison Rhoda is released. She returns to live with her mother Kim (Jordan Baker), father Robert (Flint Beverage), and teasing brother Jeff (Robin Taylor as Robin Lord Taylor) - who is more interested in the hard details of life inside jail. Rhoda is numb, full of continuing remorse and determined to try and put right what she has done. She takes the lowest job she can find, as a cleaner in a public building, and befriends elderly janitor Purdeep (Kumar Pallana), a contemplative, philosophical and humane man.

Rhoda reads that John Burroughs has come out of his coma, and is living by himself in his former family home. She watches him through his window, and summons up the courage to knock on his front door. Her cover story is to be a cleaner for a company which is offering a free day's clean as a taster for securing a cleaning contract. John lives surrounded by empty alcohol bottles, piles of dirty plates, saucepans, clothes, slobbed out in front of a television. Rhoda tries to find a way of telling who she really is, but can't, daren't. At the end of the day's trial she goes away. John asks her to return. There is no sexual desire from him - he is distanced entirely, and purposeless. Rhoda wants to find how she can tell him who she is, and face the consequences. In the meantime, she serves him by cleaning his house. He pays, but she doesn't cash the cheques.

A businessman organises a competition with the prize of training as an astronaut and travelling through space to Earth 2. Applicants have to explain in written words the reason why they should be picked. Rhoda sets her heart on going to the planet, and writes honestly. She explains that she has done wrong, that explorers of the past were often imperfect, and asks for the chance. Scientists have been trying to make contact with Earth 2, and it is Dr Joan Tallis (Diane Ciesla) who makes the breakthrough on live television. This prompts philosophical debate - if there should be identical people to those on Earth on Earth 2, are their lives identical? Or is there a point at which their lives diverge?

It is becoming less possible for Rhoda to tell John who she really is. In cleaning his house, and giving him undemanding companionship, Rhoda has helped John prepare to resume his life as a functioning human being. In addition, they are becoming fond of each other. If Rhoda wins the competition to go to Earth 2, should she go and leave him behind? If she tells him who she is will he value her for the person she really is, or hate her for what has happened to his family?

Cinematographically, Another Earth is gorgeous. Gorgeous in photography, in sound, in the composition of breathtaking seascapes with the second Earth in the sky. Gorgeous in the studies of Brit Marling (Rhoda)'s lovely face. Photography is by Mike Cahill, as is everything else - writing (with Brit Marling), direction, editing. That complete auteur control results in a shocking intimacy - it's not a film that keeps its distance - and a feeling of everything - story, picture, sound, acting, characterisation - working exactly together to produce a perfect whole.

Another Earth is a profoundly moral story. Rhoda does wrong. She doesn't mean to. Instead of trying to justify herself, or lie, she is from the outset honest, and sorry. From the moment she can act on the situation - on her release from jail - she puts herself into a position of humility. In manual work she begins her atonement, and works towards finding a way of healing the damage she has done by going to the survivor and helping him to recover his dignity and his self. She does this without looking for her own benefit. Readily, as each point of decision comes, she takes the hard and generous option rather than the selfish one. It is study in courage and steadfastness in pursuit of what is right - no matter how disadvantageous that proves to be, or how hard.

Cast Credits: IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572

Company Credits: IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572

END

John Park

reviewed Wednesday 28 September 2011 / Press screening / Cineworld Haymarket, 63-65 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RL, London UK / review written 28 November 2011

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