Ever since I was introduced into the intricate and utterly captivating world of Christopher Nolan, my fervor and devotion to cinema has become manifest. Seeing Inception for the first time was a transformative experience. It enabled me to realize where my passion lay. Nolan’s seemingly effortless ability to fuse complexity with beauty and lucidity will always remain an enigma to me. Interstellar was no exception. The first time I saw the trailer, I remember being disoriented and left not knowing what to think. The scarcity and mystification of it all were what led to the immense intrigue that ensued. That, and the trailers after, as few do today, revealed little about the plot of the actual story. I walked into the theater not knowing what to expect, having been exposed to scant details about the movie.
Prior to seeing the film, I had read an article about how Nolan had asked his recurring composer and close friend, Hans Zimmer, to score him a piece of music based on, “what it meant to him to be a father.” Nolan considers the exploration of father-daughter relationships to be “the heart of the film.” When Nolan heard the piece, an ornate composition of piano and organ, he came to the realization that the film now had to be made, based on this sole piece alone. Zimmer, who is very close with Nolan, has opened up to say much of the film and score has personal ties to him and his family. It took Zimmer over two years to score the film, starting back in 2012. He played every minute of it himself. He went as far as channeling the isolation the characters experience in the film by locking himself solitarily in his London apartment for a month in the Summer of 2013. Zimmer’s score is the true backbone and soul of the film, as it often is in whatever film his music accompanies. He is a genuinely brilliant and revolutionary composer, Interstellar being only one of many of his purely imaginative and highly emotive pieces.
After contemplating the film, I still could not comprehend my feelings towards it. I often don’t realize if I actually liked a film or not until a few days later, when I’ve had a chance to reflect upon it. I realized that Interstellar is the embodiment of innovation, space, and ingenuity all in one. It is truly a masterpiece of its time, exploring concepts few have ever dared to capture on camera. My skepticism was yet again proven wrong by Nolan’s absolute genius and portrayal of seemingly abstract concepts. I am writing this with caution as I don’t want to divulge the many marvels of this film to those who have not yet experienced it. Know that Interstellar is a film exploring the depths of not only cinema but space and humanity itself, laced with metaphysical and philosophical concepts leaving you pondering life for days. It has led to countless discussions and deliberations, stirring inquiry in its audience. Most importantly, Interstellar appeals to all ages, arousing the uncertainty of the unknown in everyone, bending the very convictions of our physical existence we feel are secure. Prepare to revel in the complete seduction and mystique that is, Interstellar.
By: Emily Larman