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Sci-fi drama

Aniara (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Aniara (2019) movie poster

Aniara is a 2019 sci-fi drama directed by Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman, starring Juan Rodríguez as The Man from Gond, Emelie Jonsson and Arvin Kananian. It is partly based on Aniara: A Review of Man in Time and Space by Harry Martinson and Stephen Klass. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes and earned $40,124 worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best International Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2019. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$40.1K
award nomination
1
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Aniara (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Directors
Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama
Original language
Swedish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Aniara About?

The premise of Aniara without spoilers, adapted from Aniara: A Review of Man in Time and Space by Harry Martinson and Stephen Klass. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A spaceship carrying colonists to Mars is knocked off course by space debris, leaving them stranded far from their destination and unable to return to Earth. As hope fades, the passengers struggle to cope with their predicament. One woman attempts to offer solace and understanding, navigating the growing despair while relying on a sophisticated computer that provides a unique, almost spiritual, connection to maintain hope against the overwhelming silence and the grim reality that rescue is impossible.

Aniara Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • trapped in space
  • sex cult
  • space colonists
  • lesbian lovers
  • based on novel
  • orgy
  • machine commits suicide
  • lesbian fingering
  • lost in space
  • adrift in space
  • two women in a shower
  • female nudity
+38 more
  • female orgasm
  • female frontal nudity
  • lesbian couple
  • suicide epidemic
  • spaceship
  • infanticide
  • mother murders child
  • death of lesbian partner
  • tragedy
  • everyone dies
  • waterfall
  • erect penis
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female pubic hair
  • pubic hair
  • pantyhose
  • 6 million years later
  • lesbian sex
  • lesbian sex in shower
  • ruined earth
  • global warming
  • colonization of mars
  • female rear nudity
  • female female kiss
  • hedonism
  • suffering from depression
  • female protagonist
  • female mechanic
  • female scientist
  • spaceship captain
  • existentialism
  • tragic ending
  • cruel irony
  • ironic ending
  • new earth
  • cult
  • new age cult
  • suicide due to depression
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Cast & crew

Aniara Cast & Characters

Juan Rodríguez leads the cast as The Man from Gond, with Emelie Jonsson and Arvin Kananian as Chefone. Directed by Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Aniara

· 6 more
From the directors

More from Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman

One more film directed by Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman: The Unliving.

Ratings

Aniara Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Aniara 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in sensory experience (85) and weakest in character & emotion (55).

70 /100

Aniara Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Aniara offers a thought-provoking but uneven experience characterized by striking visuals and existential weight. The film’s artful direction and production design frequently command attention, while its atmospheric soundscapes reinforce the pervasive sense of dread. However, underdeveloped characters and occasionally meandering pacing limit emotional engagement. The narrative’s allegorical approach has originality and thematic resonance, yet its relentless bleakness may diminish its broad appeal. Ultimately, Aniara remains an ambitious sci-fi parable that impresses on a sensory and conceptual level despite structural shortcomings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Aniara excels with its meticulous production design and measured direction. The film’s cinematography often frames the void with cold precision, while editing choices sustain a tense, austere atmosphere. Critics and viewers alike note the stark elegance of the set pieces and visual coherence throughout. These elements coalesce into a compelling visual identity that anchors the film’s thematic weight.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character and emotion, Aniara presents performances of subtle restraint but offers limited depth. Observers remark on fine individual portrayals, yet the ensemble lacks fully realized arcs, reducing emotional investment. The sparse development of key figures and minimal relational dynamics contribute to a feeling of detachment. As a result, the film’s human element remains more conceptual than personal, constraining its emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, Aniara offers a daring allegory but sometimes falters in pacing and narrative cohesion. Reviews highlight original thematic ambition and thought-provoking existential commentary, yet note moments of superficial development and uneven progression. The plot’s structure can feel rushed or meandering, limiting sustained engagement. Despite these flaws, the film maintains intrigue through its conceptual framework, even when its storytelling momentum loosens.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When evaluating the sensory experience, Aniara engages with a haunting score and immersive sound design that amplify its bleak tone. Critics praise the film’s atmospheric audio cues and the disciplined color palette that underscores the void of space. The visual style remains consistent, with unsettling imagery reinforcing existential dread. These sensory elements combine to create a cohesive, enveloping environment that intensifies the film’s thematic concerns.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    As for the rewatch factor, Aniara’s dense symbolism and arresting visuals invite further viewings, but its relentless bleakness may deter repeat watches. Some viewers are drawn back by the film’s conceptual layers and thematic richness, while others find the unremitting tone and sparse character arcs limit its lasting appeal. Overall, the film rewards analytical reappraisal but lacks the balance to guarantee broad replay value.

Plot

Aniara Plot Summary

What happens in Aniara from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a future where Earth has become nearly uninhabitable due to pollution, increasingly extreme weather, and rising seas, a luxurious starship named the Aniara carries passengers on a three‑week voyage to Mars. On board, a woman serves as the Mimarobe Emelie Jonsson within the Mima, a sophisticated artificial intelligence that recreates Earth’s verdant past as a fully immersive memory-and-emotion experience for the passengers.

Full summary

The whole story of Aniara, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Aniara Box Office

Aniara grossed $40,124 worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$40.1K

US & Canada
$40.1K
Awards

Aniara Awards & Nominations

Aniara earned 1 award nomination, including Best International Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2019.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Aniara Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Aniara - Official Trailer
  • Teaser ANIARA Teaser | TIFF 2018
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Aniara?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the luxurious starship carrying passengers through space?

Details

Aniara Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Aniara : L'Odyssée stellaire” and “아니아라”.

Also known as
  • Aniara : L'Odyssée stellaire
  • 아니아라
  • Аниара: Космическая обитель
  • 安尼亚拉号
  • אניארה
  • Аниара
  • Aniara - Rotta su Marte
  • アニアラ
  • Аніара, ანიარა

Seen Aniara?

FAQ

Aniara FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Aniara, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Aniara?

Aniara runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was Aniara released?

Aniara was released on May 17, 2019.

Who directed Aniara?

Aniara was directed by Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman.

More films by Hugo Lilja

Who is in the cast of Aniara?

Aniara stars Juan Rodríguez as The Man from Gond, Emelie Jonsson and Arvin Kananian as Chefone, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Aniara make at the box office?

Aniara grossed $40,124 worldwide.

How is Aniara rated?

Aniara has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Is Aniara based on a book?

Yes. Aniara is partly adapted from Aniara: A Review of Man in Time and Space by Harry Martinson, Stephen Klass and Leif Sjöberg.

Was Aniara nominated for any awards?

Aniara received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

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