Art house sci-fi

High Life is an art house sci-fi flick that begs comparison to 2001:A Space Odyssey but falls way short. The movie is slow yet traumatizing, starting with the screaming baby at the start. I would compare it to Chinese water torture.

I will endeavor to not spoil.

The film's premise is interesting, if confusing. The spacecraft accelerates at 1G (giving a gravity effect) and achieves >99% the speed of light, causing time dilation. The passengers obstensively have some science to do at their destination, but I don't think that is really the goal, because they are in the distant future relative to launch date. Also, this uber rocket itself suggests Earth has nearly unlimited energy, which contradicts their stated mission. Together with other information you're given, this has interesting implications.

As for wokeness, uh, the film is almost too nonlinear and confusing to be woke. There are a couple of things that may have been woke, but they go by fast.

High Life is absolutely oozing with sex, and yet there is very little actual sex. Juliette Binoche does a bizarre masterbation scene that I guess must have some artsy satanic meaning, maybe praying to Moloch. It's degrading to the actress.

The film's message, if there is one, is that life sucks, and then you die. Yet, you may have a little joy along the way if you have kids, even under the worst circumstances.

The ending... the ending will leave you going "huh?" The explanation on looper.com seems correct.

If you're into art house films, it might be okay to watch. Still, watching this movie is simply not an enjoyable experience. And my wife is ready to divorce me for choosing this film for us to watch. (How was I supposed to know? Why are women like this?) So, 2/5 is the best I can offer.