Moon — Reflection

The movie Moon is a science fiction thriller about a man working on the Moon, harvesting its minerals to provide earth with ample energy. The main character is alone, waiting for his three year contract to expire so he can return home. Only he learns that he is a clone, as are both his predecessor and his replacement. The movie is thoughtful and thought-provoking. But it resonates for me because the main character, Sam Bell, works hard for others, whether that is his society as a harvester of minerals, or for his family. Only he learns that his family is a mirage. There really was a Mrs. Sam Bell, but the videos of her were shot years earlier and replayed each time for the next clone who mistakenly believes he will be returning home to a loving wife and beautiful daughter shortly. Instead, he works to deliver energy for a hungry planet, and he “works” for his family. His sacrifice and his desire, while understood, are ignored.

There were sacrifices that clones made for one another. So despite having their worlds’ rocked, eventually the two individuals opted to work together and ultimately chose to dedicate their lives to one another. That didn’t mean that things were easy from that point on. Indeed what happened after the movie ends is very complicated and involved. And sad. The sadness that exists in the movie is palpable. Sam possesses a strong desire to connect with someone else, someone who is real. In the end, this connection never occurs. While the possibility for change exists, the last line of the movie suggests that things are very much up in the air for all involved, including the possibility of prison for the clone who returns to earth. The longing for real connection is what I react to. Sam’s desire to touch his wife, to see his daughter, to feel their presence is very real. It is crushing to discover the extent of the lie. We don’t see anything from the companies perspective; we don’t see the argument to play with the emotions of a cloned person. Are they real? Do they have feelings? Should we care? Should we care about the emotional state of anyone we are not connected to? The movie poses many questions, and provides very few distinct answers.