The Midnight Sky (2020)

The Midnight Sky (2020), a film directed by George Clooney, is based on the 2016 novel Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton. Augustine Lofthouse, a reclusive academic, has dedicated his life to searching for habitable planets in hopes of humanity’s expansion. He meets Jean Sullivan at a gala following a presentation and they begin a romantic relationship. However, after a pregnancy scare, she leaves him due to his work fixation and difficulty connecting with others. Years later, when they cross paths again, Jean reveals they have a daughter together but Lofthouse chooses not to meet her. By 2049, an event has decimated most of Earth’s population and made the surface uninhabitable due to radiation. Lofthouse is the sole occupant of a large Arctic base and in flashbacks it is revealed that he refused to evacuate knowing that his serious illness and need for medical treatment would ultimately lead to his death.

Lofthouse scours the base’s computer systems for any active crewed space missions in order to warn them about the ongoing situation on Earth. He comes across only one mission: the interplanetary craft Aether, which is currently returning from exploring Jupiter’s habitable moon K-23 – a discovery that Lofthouse himself made. However, the crew of Aether is unaware of the events on Earth due to faulty communication systems and Lofthouse’s attempts to contact them are hindered by his weak antenna even though they are within range. On top of his declining physical health, Lofthouse is also experiencing mental lapses. During a small fire in the kitchen, he stumbles upon a young mute girl hiding there. Despite his efforts to reach out to potential evacuees, he is unsuccessful and ends up being unable to secure assistance for her. The girl draws an iris, leading Lofthouse to assume that this is her name.