Mr. Nobody, trailer

Another high point in this year of science-fiction peaks? One unfair complaint about the genre is that it’s often cold and too emotionless. In space, no one can hear you sigh. Maybe that’s why sci-fi grounded in familiar surroundings usually has the best shot at awards potential. ET, Close Encounters, Gattaca. Even as far back as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, science fiction does better on the awards circuit if the characters have their feet planted on planet Earth.

In spite of everyday realities like the daring space shuttle repair of the Hubble telescope last week, Oscar still seems to think astronauts and off-word adventure are the dramatic equivalent of comic book superheroes. They need to get over it. Some of the freshest and most thought-provoking movies ever made are those that show us a near-future or alternate reality. Hard to tell from this trailer for Mr. Nobody has the gravitas to give it a sense of prestige — but it’s got elements the Academy likes to see in science fiction and fantasy films: Depictions of separation, loss and reunion. Yearning for security conflicting with an urge for adventure. And a kid, to help audiences get in touch with their inner childhood wonderment.

Check out the official website here. Thanks to FirstShowing.net for featuring the trailer. Any synopsis reveals too much, so I won’t publish one here. I’d recommend letting this movie come at you out of the blue. Mr. Nobody is written and directed by Belgian Jaco van Dormael, and stars Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Rhys Ifans and Diane Kruger. It won’t open in Belgium until October, and hasn’t found international yet, so there’s a good chance we won’t see it here this year at all.