Cargo (Ivan Engler, 2009): Switzerland

Reviewed by Emily Day. Viewed at the Mann Chinese Theater, AFI Film Festival, Hollywood.

Cargo is Switzerland’s first sci-fi thriller about a young female doctor who works aboard a freighter space ship hoping to earn enough money to buy passage to a paradise planet called “Rhea” where her sister is currently living. As the futuristic plot moves along, certain questions arise as to where the freighter is heading, why it would seem a stowaway is on board and what hope there really is for those who wish to live in the utopia.

I was impressed when the director walked up to the front to speak before the screening of his 2009 film. Ivan Engler explained that he was nervous for us to watch it because he was afraid the audience wouldn’t appreciate it. Fortunately for him I believe the audience did in fact appreciate his craft. Working on a sci-fi with a very small budget sounds like a huge risk, in the end it would seem it was worth it.

The special effects were passable along with the set and costumes. I enjoyed the idea behind the film but sometimes wished there was more than just suspense.  During certain scenes I felt that the suspense was contrived instead of unpredictable and certain aspects did not always pass as believable. Overall I do believe that the director will have many new opportunities ahead of him because he decided to take such a risk creating this film.