Dr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.
Direction
Cuarón's 17-minute opening shot is show-off cinema at its finest.
Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki made space look both gorgeous and hungry.
Sound
Silence as weapon—no explosions, just your own heartbeat.
Director
Alfonso Cuarón
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sandra Bullock trained with Cirque du Soleil performers for five months to simulate zero-G movement. The 'light box' rig was so isolating she sometimes communicated through music playlists.
The film's sound design—explosions as silent vibrations—was scientifically accurate but controversial; theaters actually had to warn audiences there would be 'long periods of silence.'
US
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