“Elysium”, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, opens in cinemas

Four years ago, with the science fiction film District 9, Neill Blomkamp established himself as one of the new directors to watch out for. The director was acclaimed by critics and spectators alike with this original film, which uses the story of an extra-terrestrial being as a reflection on the apartheid regime of South Africa. On the basis of this, Blomkamp has once again used science fiction as a metaphor for contemporary society (the differences between the rich and poor countries) and the drama of illegal immigration in his latest film, Elysium.

 

In the year 2159, humanity is divided into two groups, the rich, who live in an immaculate, artificial space station known as Elysium, and the rest, who survive with extreme difficulty on a super-populated planet Earth that has been reduced to ruins. While secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) will stop at nothing to preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the wealthy inhabitants of Elysium, this will not prevent the Earth dwellers from trying everything in their power to gain entrance to the station. Max, played by Matt Damon, accepts leadership of a mission that may end up costing him his life but, if it succeeds, will serve to restore the balance between these two polarised worlds.  

 

Aside from Damon and Foster, the cast is completed by other actors such as William Fitchner, Alice Braga, Diego Luna and Sharito Copley (who starred in Blomkamp’s previous film). The film opens in cinemas on the 16th of August.