I am head over heels enamored with writer / director Pavlo Ostrikov’s “U Are the Universe,” a deeply moving, genre-bending journey that transcends the typical boundaries of science fiction and delves into the most universal aspects of human existence: love, loneliness, and the instinct to survive. This is a beautiful film with a gorgeous sentiment that hits every single high note with a breathtaking splendor and grace.
Warning: there are major plot spoilers ahead, so please proceed with caution if you’ve yet to see the film.
Set in a distant dystopian future, the film tells the story of Andriy Melnyk (Volodymyr Kravchuk), a Ukrainian space trucker who becomes the last known human in the universe after a catastrophic event destroys Earth. With an A.I. robot called Maxim (voiced by Leonid Popadko) as his only companion, Andriy comes to terms with the fact that he will die alone, never seeing another human being. Everything changes when he picks up a transmission from Catherine (voiced by Alexia Depicker), a French meteorologist turned spationaut who is stuck on her spaceship orbiting the rings of Saturn. The pair strike up a friendship through a series of deep, philosophical conversations about their impending doom, which slowly transforms into an intense, long-distance love story of sorts. Determined to find her, Andriy makes it his personal mission to attempt the dangerous journey so they won’t have to spend their final days alone.
The film’s narrative is as limitless and lonely as the space it inhabits, yet it is filled with profound emotion and powerful humanity that is from the heart. The relationship between Andriy and Catherine adds a layer of hope to an otherwise bleak scenario, which creates a beautiful contrast between the cold vastness of space and the warmth of a real human connection. That’s why, when Ostrikov throws a twist into his story, it feels like the most ferocious of gut punches.
Kravchuk delivers a truly exceptional performance as Andriy, showcasing an impressively wide range of emotions as he navigates the stages of grief, isolation, and unexpected joy. His portrayal of an introverted man who finds himself alone in the infinite void is both compelling and relatable, and the actor’s ability to convey the complexities of Andriy’s emotional journey is so powerful that it carries the entire film, making his character’s struggle feel intensely personal.
The film’s visual effects work in tandem with his journey too, effectively capturing the lonely expanse of the universe while enhancing the sense of isolation and the beauty of space. This is a gorgeous film inside and out, and it’s one that is both visually and emotionally stunning.
There is a ton of depth, poignancy, and relevance to “U Are the Universe,” and a lot of that comes from its exploration of sophisticated themes within its devastating yet touching narrative. The film’s beautiful conclusion serves as a reminder that, even in the darkest of times, we are never truly alone.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 