I need to talk about something that the film Project Hail Mary does really well: Grace is so alone on Earth. The only people we see him having fun with are the kids who are no longer present past the first scene with them, and Carl, who once Grace becomes actively involved in the project, stops being shown. Stratt pushes him away gently, never really letting him in. He is always alone in a lab, alone at the bar.
the bar scene was insane to me in terms of framing. We see Grace, alone in the corner, looking at all the other people having fun together. He locks eyes with some of the astronauts, and all three of them look awkward. Stratt looks at him, but never moves towards him, never makes contact. He is always alone. He is lonely.
Rocky makes his world light up. He has energy, he uses his teacher voice, he bounces a ball off of the xenonite walls while chatting with Rocky. He climbs a tree, he surfs, he makes puppet shows “reluctantly”. Rocky means that Grace is loved. Grace feels loved. People have already pointed out that Rocky and Stratt both play the Trolley Problem with Grace, Stratt choosing the rational option, and Rocky choosing the emotional one. Here’s my imput:
Grace plays the Trolley Problem with himself. On earth he hasn’t got it in him to sacrifice himself for the entire planet, he has nothing to die for, no motivation. He chooses to sacrifice the earth, even if that choice was overturned.
Grace chooses to sacrifice himself for Rocky. He pulls the lever and puts his life on the line, for the one person he knows will do the same, the person who has already done the same. Rocky is the person he will die for, because with Rocky, he actually lived.
Rocky means Grace is not alone. Rocky means Grace isn’t lonely
And also that it goes the other way. Rocky was happy on Erid, sure. He wasn’t lonely. Then he went to space, on a mission to save everyone and everything he loves, with a crew of fellow Eridians. But then everyone else died, and Rocky was alone in the vacuum of space, basically waiting to die. Knowing he would die alone. He is so desperately lonely.
Then, miraculously, Grace appears. Like a Hail Mary for Rocky. Here is a friend. They learn to understand each other, their languages and the shape of each other and how they tick, together. Someone who he can watch sleep and then wake up. Someone to protect him as Rocky sleeps. Someone to learn things from, to tease and laugh and just be with. Someone who saved him from death and isolation and replaced it with life and joy. Someone who is helping him save Erid.
Rocky could never have chose the rational option, because at this point Grace, who saved him physically and emotionally, is all he has out in space. Grace is his world. He would do anything, for Grace.
Grace means Rocky is not alone. Grace means Rocky isn’t lonely
