“A delightful twist on familiar genre tropes, told with enough compassion and sincerity to sustain its more unconventional ideas.”

As far as common narrative structures go, the “last man on earth” trope has been overdone to the point where it seems almost impossible to tell such a story without retreading themes that have been told countless times before. Yet, they persist and often tend to compound in meaning through the continued march towards oblivion that enormous portions of humanity seem to be ignoring. In U Are the Universe, his first feature directorial outing, Pavlo Ostrikov takes this idea a step further by telling the story of a “space trucker” who is informed that Planet Earth has exploded, leading to the very likely possibility that he is the last remaining sentient being in the entire universe. However, fate brings him into contact with another astronaut who is herself stranded in a remote space station – and what starts as a desperate attempt to connect with the only other human left in this endless, expansive void of space eventually flourishes into a long-distance romance, as the pair begin to share their innermost desires as they inch closer to one another in the hopes of spending whatever time is left together. A poignant, heartfelt tale delivered as a charming and oddly upbeat science fiction comedy, U Are the Universe is a terrific film, one with a sincerity that compensates for a few clichéd moments scattered throughout an otherwise effective story which benefits from its simplicity rather than being impeded by it, and introduces us to a filmmaker with a fascinating vision that draws the viewer in and subverts expectations in creative and inventive ways.  

Choosing to make your feature directorial debut in the science fiction genre is certainly ambitious, but considering the industry now allows access to resources that facilitate more audacious approaches, it seemed logical that some high-concept debuts would inevitably emerge, of which U Are the Universe is one of the most memorable in recent years. However, the impact comes from the fact that it does not aspire to reinvent the genre, nor does it attempt to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the canonical masterpieces. If anything, Ostrikov is crafting a loving homage to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris, riffing on their central premises while going in his own direction, entirely aware that what he is creating is not nearly as complex in scope but makes up for it in the candor of the story. At its heart we find that he is telling a story about loneliness more than anything else, with the revelation that the protagonist is likely the last of his species occurring early in the film, which opens it to some poignant meditations on the nature of isolation and the realization that one’s home has ceased to exist. Gradually, it grows into something more complex once the character of Catherine is introduced (and even so, she is a disembodied voice until the final beautiful moments), while still maintaining a sense of tender, subtle charm that is impossible to resist, even at its most conventional.

It’s impossible to look at a film like U Are the Universe and not notice some of its more predictable elements, and the director is not striving to craft something entirely unorthodox. The narrative is simple but effective, following two astronauts who find each other at an opportune moment and discover that they are kindred spirits. There isn’t much more to the premise than this, but the director very smartly prioritizes these elements over attempts to be overconfident in his style. Science fiction has become the genre in which every filmmaker aims to create a more ambitious spectacle than the last, to the point where something as humane and straightforward as this film draws our attention because of its simplicity. The focus is not on the technical elements (although it is a superbly well-made film – the effects are gorgeous, and there are some genuinely stunning images scattered throughout), but rather on the tonal aspects of the story. Constructed as a romantic comedy set in space, and where two individuals find themselves falling in love in less-than-ideal circumstances, the film deftly blends humor and pathos in a way that can’t entirely avoid sentimentality, but circumvents it enough to come across as somewhat genuine, even when it is quite predictable at certain points. The compassion brought to the story is a stark contrast from previous entries in the genre that are criticized for their coldness, which gives the film a sense of earthly resonance.

As far as the science fiction genre goes, U Are the Universe sits at the intersection between cerebral and accessible, being both a deeply meditative bundle of existential quandaries and a charming story of romance and hope found in the most unlikely of places. The film may meander at some points, but it is all in service of telling a story that intends to strike a chord, even if it is decidedly more predictable than it perhaps ought to have been. The technical aspects are impressive, as are the performances (Volodymyr Kravchuk delivers a spellbinding portrayal of the protagonist, depicting a man slowly coming to terms with his mortality while desperately trying to grasp onto the last vestiges of fleeting hope), which makes this a well-rounded entry in a genre that is undeniably popular and has rarely needed to be revived, but which still benefits from attempts to go in different directions when it feels appropriate. An effective combination of soft-hearted humor, tender romance and stimulating but accessible philosophy, Ostrikov’s handling of various ideas results in a pleasant, heartfelt genre production that doesn’t aspire to redefine science fiction, but rather fills in the emotional gaps that are sometimes found in more cerebral, complex offerings. It shows that even in a story about the annihilation of the human species and its home, there is still the possibility of optimism. Far from the most nuanced or daring approach to these themes, but one that compensates for its simplicity with a genuine sense of heartfulness and affection for its characters, U Are the Universe is a delightful twist on familiar genre tropes, told with enough compassion and sincerity to sustain its more unconventional ideas.