A New Take on Invasion of the Body Snatchers

French animator Jérémy Clapin, known for his superb debut feature, I Lost My Body, enters the live-action realm with a thoughtful sci-fi thriller that doesn’t give you all the answers. Meanwhile on Earth follows a grieving young woman struggling in the aftermath of her astronaut brother’s mysterious disappearance on a space mission. She’s stunned to receive a message from him, but there’s a significant hurdle to enable his return home. The film’s artful direction, animated cutscenes, and the protagonist’s existential crisis captivates as a less disconcerting Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

We hear the voice of astronaut Franck Martens (Sébastien Pouderoux) as he talks to his younger sister, Elsa (Megan Northam), from deep space. He prods her to continue drawing and exploring her artistic abilities. The still-unseen Elsa imagines herself and Franck as animated characters flying through space on a futuristic ship. The screen’s aspect rate slims as they soar past dazzling worlds. Elsa sees herself as an alien figure with pointy elf-like ears. Franck’s voice fades as the screen’s perspective widens to reveal a vastly different reality.

Elsa tenderly feeds an invalid old man in the dining room of a nursing home. She wheels him back to his room while engaging in polite conversation. Her kind and caring demeanor is obvious from the start. Annick (Catherine Salée), the facility’s director, chides Elsa while she asks for an update on the patient. A seemingly aloof Elsa gives halting answers before she leaves work.

Megan Northam as Elsa in Meanwhile on Earth

Her drive past the town square reveals a statue of Franck in his spacesuit. She stops to spray paint an F on his chest. Franck and all the ship’s crew members were lost on the mission. Elsa’s arrival home reveals Annick is her mother. She never wanted her daughter to be so consumed by Franck’s apparent death. Elsa decides to take Vincent (Roman Williams), her younger brother, stargazing on a hill with a transmission tower. She notices a strange dust storm circling something glowing in the grass.

Meanwhile on Earth asks a simple question. What would you do to get a loved one back from endless oblivion? Elsa hears Franck again from the void. But he’s not reaching out to her of his own volition. Something else has Frank under its control and needs Elsa’s help getting to Earth. She must do something that will enable their direct communication, but it also gives complete access to her thoughts. Franck’s survival depends on Elsa’s cooperation. She’s given little time to find human host bodies for Franck’s alien captors.

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Northam, a burgeoning French actress, is sublime as a woman adrift in life without her anchor. She idolized Franck growing up and saw his achievements as very much her own. He supported her creative endeavors when she lacked the courage to show her art. His absence shattered Elsa’s self-worth and left her aimless. To learn that he’s not dead and can return to his family is a dream come true. But she soon realizes the awful sacrifices that must be made to complete this devil’s bargain.

Alien Influence in Meanwhile on Earth

Meanwhile on Earth takes a darker direction during the second act. What are these beings? What is their objective? Who will she choose to fulfill her ghastly duty? Can she believe they won’t try to conquer humanity? Elsa puts herself at risk while trying to lure others into the alien trap. Her first attempt takes an alarming turn that drives home the dangerous stakes. She cannot escape them after allowing their internal contact. They are always in her head. Elsa must weigh the consequences of her actions. Franck is beyond precious to her, but is his life worth the price she must pay?

Clapin uses animation to illustrate Elsa’s internal conflict and possible choices. The aspect ratio always changes to reflect her narrowing focus. Elsa’s imagined interactions with Franck begin to transpose his situation. Maybe she should be lost in space instead of him. Franck was the hero who everyone adored. What’s her purpose in the world compared to his? The walls close in as time runs out. Elsa devolves into a wreck as she struggles with a monumental decision. She must weigh her own dreams, belonging, and value to her family before making a drastic decision.

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Meanwhile on Earth never shows the alien puppet masters or how they achieve their mind control. What they force Elsa to do makes sense in context. Logic dictates that any being near death will act accordingly to prolong life. Clapin explains their existence but leaves the actual threat level to subjective interpretation. This methodology also holds true in a climax where you’re not sure what actually happens. The lack of certainty and finality may annoy some audiences, but you have to appreciate its philosophical implications.

Meanwhile on Earth, originally Pendant ce temps sur Terre, has French dialogue with English subtitles. A production of One World Films, it will be released theatrically on November 8 from Metrograph Pictures.