Aniara (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 46m (106 min)
- Directors
- Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman
- Original language
-
Swedish
- Studio
- Magnet Releasing
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Co-director Hugo Lilja
- Co-director Pella Kagerman
- Juan Rodríguez as The Man from Gond
- Emelie Jonsson
-
Arvin Kananian as Chefone - Anneli Martini as The Astronomer
Also Starring in Aniara
· 6 more- Bianca Cruzeiro Isagel
- Jennie Silfverhjelm Libidel
- Peter Carlberg Chief Engineer
- Emma Broomé Chebeba
- Jamil Drissi The Intendent
- Leon Jiber Daisi Doody
More from Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman
One more film directed by Hugo Lilja and Pella Kagerman: The Unliving.
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).
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.
-
IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 70% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 63%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 61 Metascore
User score 7.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 61% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
324 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
Aniara Box Office
Aniara grossed $40,124 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$40.1K
- US & Canada
- $40.1K
Aniara Awards & Nominations
Aniara earned 1 award nomination, including Best International Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2019.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best International Film Release
Aniara Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser ANIARA Teaser | TIFF 2018
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the luxurious starship carrying passengers through space?
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?
Movies Like Aniara
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Aniara, Andromina: The Pleasure Planet and Alien from the Darkness.
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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