Director: Nathaniel Kahn
Synopsis: The Hunt for Planet B follows a pioneering group of scientists on their quest to find another Earth among the stars with NASA’s high-stakes James Webb Space Telescope.
[/info]
In The Hunt for Planet B, the latest documentary by Oscar-nominated director Nathaniel Kahn, we are offered a privileged view of the most ambitious mission by NASA to date: the construction and future launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which will allow humans to see the earliest stars and galaxies of the Universe and to study the planets of the Trappist-1 system. Simply put, this project will change our relationship with the Universe. Nevertheless, Kahn’s humanistic approach also makes us feel invested in the lives of the scientists in charge of this revolutionary project.
As the documentary progresses, it is evident that the director is more interested in creating connections with the engineers, astrophysicists, and astronomers than in only offering data and progress. This way, he explores attentively their thoughts, hobbies, illusions, and expectations regarding the mission. As a good storyteller, Kahn makes us feel invested in the main characters as well as in their conflict.
In an ambitious approach, The Hunt for Planet B disseminates its interest in multiple leaders – mostly women –and shows their personal and professional stories. How does an astrophysicist feel about the possibility of finding alien life in the Universe? This documentary constantly explores this question. Kahn allows us to get a peek into the lives and philosophies of some of the most intelligent and capable minds of the planet, while showing us that they are just like us – with illusions, needs and heartbreaks – but with wonderful brains and transcendental goals.
The documentary makes a significant emphasis on the fact that the teams of the James Webb Space Telescope mission are formed and led by women. Through clear and immersing interviews, we meet those who became pioneers in the field of extraterrestrial life and exoplanets – Jill Tarter and Sara Seagar, respectively – as they narrate their involvement in the field, the advance on the search of that planet with specific characteristics that would allow for extraterrestrial life, and their point of view on this subject on a personal level.
These conversations are presented in a casual and enjoyable way. Kahn converses with his subjects while driving around, rowing in local lakes, practicing beekeeping, or racing cars. We get to see their facets as scientists and humans. The documentary invests time interviewing pivotal figures such as Natalie Batalha, Amy Lo, Clara Sousa-Silva, and Maggie Turnbull, who offer enthusiastic views on their projects, as well as friendly explanations on the technical and scientific sides of the mission.
It is a tribute to Kahn’s capable hands, as well as to the scientists who are shattering the glass ceiling in their field, that we are as interested in their achievements, struggles, and philosophies, as well as in the advances of the mission. Their personal views on the matter are exciting and interesting because they do not offer easy answers, but mostly more mysteries about the enigmas of the Universe.
The experience of watching The Hunt for Planet B is enhanced by the technical decisions by Kahn and his team. Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score is playful, inspiring, and meaningful. It makes us feel as if we were watching a Hollywood space movie, only that this is much better because it is real life.
The cinematography by Robert Richman and the concept art developed for the illustration of Trappist-1 System are colorful and captivating. The rendered images help us understand the mission while imagining the possibilities of discoveries on those distant places. Sabine Krayenbühl’s editing creates urgency and interrelation between the subjects, the mission, and the issues on Earth. As we learn about the project, we also see what is threatening the future of this planet. Kahn makes us care for what is happening on our home planet while making us turn our eyes to the stars.
The Hunt for Planet B is an exciting peek into a massive project that will allow us to learn more about space, and consequently, more about ourselves as a species. The commentaries and insights presented by the scientists are so groundbreaking and mystical that they inspire more questions and interest on the subject. The launching of the James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled for October 2021, and with this documentary, hopefully, more people will get as invested and passionate on the matter as those in charge of such an awe-inspiring mission.
