Movie Review: Stranded (Náufragos)

Stranded (Náufragos) a.k.a The Shelter 

Niggeman IndieFilms S.L., Dolores Pictures, Guerrilla Films, Spain, 2001.

First manned mission is sent to Mars. Andre Vishniac (José Sancho) is the captain of spaceship Ares. The rest of the crew are engineer Luca Baglioni (Vincent Gallo), doctor Jenny Johnson (Maria de Medeiros), astrobiologist Fidel Rodrigo (Joaquim de Almeida), pilot Susana Sánchez (María Lidón) and geologist Herbert Sagan (Danel Aser). Pilot Lowell (Johnny Ramone, the Ramones guitarist) stays behind in the orbital spaceship. The landing shuttle crashes and Captain dies. 

Susana, Herbert and Andre

Spaceship Ares

Susana and Fidel

The survivors have to survive at least 26 months before the rescue mission arrives. How to get water, food and oxygen until them is the problem. Rocks of Mars contain oxygen but freeing it requires energy they do not have enough. Susana is the new commander. Herb is optimistic about survival, but the rest are pessimistic. The energy of the landing shuttle will not be enough for all five survivors and three of them have to die. 

Pilot Lowell

The survivors

Martian landscape

The three unlucky ones take a walk exploring Mars until the end. They also talk about what made them travel to Mars and how their accident will be portrayed in the media. However Mars holds some secrets! 

Exploring Mars

Friends of movies "Moon" and "Apollo 13" might want to check out this scifi drama that is refreshingly different from modern Hollywood action-packed scifi. It is about survival and exploration in another planet when the hope of being rescued is waning. There's not much action and the story goes on slowly, so be aware of that. The first half has some things scientifically correct and some not. You can't have real time radio conversation between Earth and Mars! The end goes to scifi fantasy territory to make the bleak setting more optimistic. Although the budget is low it still looks quite realistic with almost documentary style approach.

Rating: Good 

Starring: Vincent Gallo, Maria de Medeiros, Joaquim de Almeida, María Lidón, Danel Aser, Johnny Ramone, José Sancho, Paul Gibert 

Director: María Lidón (as Luna)