Fading into the Sunset in Sunshine

            In Danny Boyle’s Sunshine, the powerhouse of our universe, the Sun, is dying and a team of astronauts are sent to restart it and keep sustained the potential for life in the universe. The movie presents an interesting situation that contributes to our ability to analyze and learn about the characters by putting each into this unbelievably pressure-filled scenario. Literally, the weight of the world as they know it is on their shoulders; this is made clear when Mace points out just how isolated their situation is that they’d been alone long before communication with Earth was lost. The impeding doom associated with their isolation is underscored by the motif throughout Sunshine in which the ship is constantly seen hurdling towards the Sun whenever a step back is taken and the ship is viewed against the backdrop (an interesting analogy for how hopeless their entire mission feels when taking a step back and observing).

             The ways in which the characters respond to this is our best way of learning about the characters. For example Trey, the mathematician, in the heat of this pressure cracks. As we discussed in class, the duality of opposite concepts is what truly allows for our understanding; without one, the other cannot be fully grasped. In this way the frailty of mind of Trey and the cowardice of Harvey allow us to understand the coming of age of Capa as exemplified through his heroism. Initially when we are introduced to Capa he is a timid character who is reluctant to take responsibility when he was most informed and best suited to decide as to what course their trek would take, this would eventually change.

            Those who accept responsibility within the world of Sunshine seem to be rewarded when they make the ultimate sacrifice. All of the crew onboard the Icarus are martyrs sent to save Earth, but the true hopelessness of the situation is not pushed on the crew until the initial decision by Capa is made. As the movie makes clear, the decision was one of complete chance, a toss-up. From here on out, those who accept their role in the following events are relieved of their role in a tranquil state of apparent bliss; one that is beyond description as Kaneda shows us. Where as those who fight it are not given such a peaceful exit; they aren’t simply embraced into the light as Searle and Capa eventually are. Capa’s progression from the reluctant decision-maker to the final, ultimate decision-maker is an underscore for my take on the purpose of the movie: highlighting the importance of virtue and heroism in the face of hopelessness even when repercussions are far out of sight.