It has been over 400 years since Galileo declared that Earth was not actually the center of the universe as was previously believed. We have come a long way as a species in terms of exploring beyond our terrestrial world into the far reaches of space. Unfortunately, while we once lived in a world in which innovation and exploration were championed on a global scale, there is a general sense of apathy when it comes to broadening our interstellar horizons these days. Even before the global pandemic manifested to occupy every waking thought, there was a vocal contingent that felt space exploration was a waste of time and resources. As director Nathaniel Kahn (The Price of Everything, My Architect) shows in his new documentary The Hunt For Planet B, it takes more than a few naysayers to keep a good scientist down. While discovery for the sake of knowledge should be reason enough, a quick look at our rapidly deteriorating Earth is proof of why those looking beyond our solar system for signs of life are true heroes.
The film begins with Dr. Sara Seager speaking before a 2013 NASA congressional hearing answering all of the questions that a particularly curious family member might ask concerning the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. Dr. Seager is a brilliant advocate for the massive undertaking that is NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a collective endeavor of thousands of people from fourteen countries to create the most complex space telescope that has ever existed. Her own story is one that highlights the massive shifts in beliefs that have occurred in the past several decades. Her decision to study exoplanets was met with derision from her colleagues at the beginning of her career since there was only one known exoplanet at the time, a number that has exploded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams these days.
Kahn introduces us to a number of brilliant women and men at the forefront of the fields that are most ripe for innovation. The mother-daughter team of Dr. Natalie and Natasha Batalha prove to be an irresistible duo where even an eavesdropping over shop-talk during an informal lunch is equal parts fascinating and inspiring. Natasha is doing some incredible work as she studies atmospheres of worlds beyond our solar system in an attempt to find a planet in the “Goldilocks Zone” that could sustain life. You cannot also cannot help but admire the ascent of Dr. Amy Lo, who through consistently impressive innovations has risen to the level of Deputy Director of Vehicle Engineering on the James Webb Telescope. We first meet Dr. Lo building race cars in her spare time with her husband as she excitedly breaks down the massive undertaking that is placing the Webb Telescope in L2, an area of the galaxy that is four times the distance from the Earth to the moon. The fact that she will play such a pivotal role in getting it there is quite amazing.
Even stepping outside of the human elements involved in this endeavor, learning intricate details about the gargantuan task that is the construction and launch of the James Webb Space Telescope never ceases to be fascinating. These scientists want people to know and understand why this project is important and what a wondrous feat it is that so many people and countries are coming together to make it happen. To this end, they serve up information that is easily digestible for even the most amateur of space enthusiasts. It may be difficult to fathom how powerful a telescope can be, but when it is said that it could detect the heat from a bumblebee that is on the moon, you sit up and take notice. The scenes of these groups assembling the Webb Telescope are jaw-dropping at times. It is easy to get deeply invested in the outcome of the project, which is what makes any hiccups along the way feel like a gut punch.
If there is any drawback to Kahn’s approach to telling this story, it would be that he occasionally seems to lose focus of the larger narrative while trying to service several smaller different beats he wants to highlight. It is not that these are not rich topics worthy of exploration, they just often need more time and attention than this particular documentary has time to dedicate to them. We see the incredible diversity of the teams working in this field, but attempts to address the matter explicitly do not give this important topic the exploration it deserves. The personal elements that Kahn uses to give this story the emotional resonance it needs are often very effective, but there are a few unnecessary detours where it feels like his fondness for the subjects slows the movie down a bit. Although, at least one of these seemingly superfluous plot threads does pay off with an unexpected “twist” ending.
You would be hard-pressed to watch The Hunt For Planet B and not leave more excited by the possibility of exploring beyond our galaxy. With the James Webb Space Telescope set to launch Halloween 2021, we are mere months away from opening up a treasure trove of new information about unknown worlds. This film is a love-letter to everyone who has worked so hard to make this project a reality. In a time where science is being ignored by large swaths of the nation, it is downright moving to follow a group of people not dictated by personal beliefs. There is no agenda, there is only exploration. An embracing of science is what we all need right now.
The Hunt For Planet B had its World Premiere in the Documentary Spotlight section of SXSW Online 2021.
Director: Nathaniel Kahn
Rated: NR
Runtime: 93m
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
