Shifting Baselines

At the southern tip of Texas, in the middle of a wild and untamed landscape, lies the village of Boca Chica. In 2018, Elon Musk chose this remote place as the new headquarters of SpaceX. Towered over by 50?storey rockets, the area is now largely abandoned by its residents and overtaken by an ever expanding industrial complex.

Space exploration enthusiasts flock there in large numbers, nourished by the hope of reaching Mars to escape a ravaged planet. On the other side of the Rio Grande, Mexican families fish under the watchful eye of the border patrol. Some dream of traveling to the stars; others simply wish to continue living on Earth.

Meanwhile, scientists are increasingly concerned about the consequences of this new space race. Once an unlikely scenario imagined in the 1970s, the “Kessler syndrome” a chain reaction triggered by collisions among the many pieces of space debris in orbit has become a real worry for astrophysicists. Something has shifted, both in the sky and on the ground. Are these promising visions of a better future merely reckless ambitions leading us toward disaster Here, on the banks of the Rio Grande, the Texan village of Boca Chica becomes the stage for humanity’s hopes, doubts, and fears.

Stay with us for the post-screening discussion with director Julien Elie and filmmaker Pascale Rousseau – April 18 screening

Guests View the trailer Press kit