Canada
2024 95 mins
OV English
Theodore (Elias Koteas, CRASH, CHICAGO P.D.) is alone. Far from the Earth’s surface, he's a miner in the Capillian Star System on penal colony planet #384, sending extraterrestrial minerals to Earth via an interplanetary delivery system. It’s an experimental colonization project, and he is the only prisoner there. Ailing and half-sane, his life is routine, with journaling, watching TV show reruns, and taking comfort in memories of his life on Earth.
When a young woman named Niyya (Briana Middleton, SHARPER, THE TENDER BAR) is sent to planet #384 on terrorist charges, her tragic past follows her. Adopted by an alien race called “Oieans,” her resistance to prejudice towards the aliens and the history of their massacre lands her on this planet with Theodore. As they learn more about each other, Niyya suspects an ugly truth lies deep in Theodore’s deteriorating mind.
Jeffrey St. Jules, who premiered his first feature BANG BANG BABY at TIFF in 2014 and is an alumnus of the Cannes Festival Residence, comes to Fantasia with producers Andrew Bronfman, Mark O’Neill and executive producer Allan Ungar to present the World Premiere of his moving sci-fi film THE SILENT PLANET. Known for his surreal approach to his subject matter, St. Jules explores what the future of Earth would look like if we included aliens as a part of immigration policies. This contemplative film is light years away from bombastic space operas, exploring regret, redemption, and redress as two people come together in the worst situation and face a horrible truth. – Carolyn Mauricette