U Are the Universe

Directed by Pavlo Ostrikov, U Are the Universe follows a Ukrainian space trucker (Volodymyr Kravchuk’s Andriy) as his mission takes a rather grim turn after a calamity befalls his home planet. Filmmaker Ostrikov, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a striking, ambitious debut that benefits from its compelling subject matter and strong central performance, and there’s little doubt, too, that the picture’s watchable atmosphere is heightened by the frighteningly plausible bent of its premise – with, in addition, the lived-in set design certainly enhancing the movie’s compelling vibe. And while the 101 minute running time admittedly does result in a handful of lulls (ie this is an endeavor that should’ve topped out at an hour and a half, at the most), U Are the Universe boasts several surprises and plot twists, including a real doozy within the third act, that compensate for its few weak spots and effectively buoy one’s interest throughout – which, when coupled with a strong, surprisingly touching finale, cements the film’s place as a solid sci-fi feature that bodes well for Ostrikov’s future endeavors behind the camera.

*** out of ****