IO

IO is a 2019 post-apocalyptic film directed by Jonathan Helpert and starring Margaret Qualley, Anthony Mackie and Danny Huston. The story is set in the aftermath of a catastrophic event where Earth’s atmosphere has become toxic, causing the extinction of most of the planet’s living beings.

The protagonist of the film is a young scientist named Sam (Margaret Qualley), who has been living in isolation in a lab hidden deep in the woods. She has been studying the atmosphere and attempting to find a solution for the toxic gas to dissipate, leaving Earth habitable once again.

Sam lives with her father, who is also a scientist, but he has recently passed away while on a research expedition, leaving Sam alone to continue the work they were doing. However, she is plagued by doubts regarding the success of their previous efforts and she spends a lot of time contemplating whether her work is in vain or not.

Despite the bleakness of the situation, Sam remains hopeful and committed to the cause of saving Earth, even though she knows it will take many years before the planet is once again fit for human habitation. Along the way, she meets a man named Micah (Anthony Mackie), who survived the initial catastrophic event, and has been making his way to the last remaining evacuation point to leave Earth for a new home.

Micah is a former astronaut, who because of his skills, has been recruited to take part in a mission to relocate the remaining human survivors to a new planet, free from the toxic atmosphere of Earth. Sam and Micah form an unlikely alliance, and it becomes clear that they have different ideas about what the future holds for them as well as for the planet.

As they travel together, Sam and Micah discuss their opinions and philosophical ideas about the idea of hope, and their contrasting views lead to a lot of emotional and intellectual discourse; ranging from debating the purpose of life, the natural order of things, and the human's contribution to the toxic condition of the earth.

As they journey into the unknown, Sam is conflicted between her commitment to stay behind and devote herself to a seemingly futile quest to save Earth, or join Micah on his expedition to start anew on another planet. Micah, on the other hand, is eager to move on from the past and start anew. However, both protagonists gradually begin to understand each other's points of view, and start to look at their uncertain future with a new perspective.

As they near the endpoint of their journey, Sam is faced with the most difficult decision of her life when she is presented with the opportunity to leave Earth with Micah, though this means forsaking everything she has ever known and sacrificing her lifelong dream to save the planet all by herself.

Overall, IO is an introspective and thought-provoking movie that examines fundamental human questions such as survival, hope, and the ethical challenges that we might be required to face in the event of an apocalypse. It shows that in the darkest of moments, we are often defined by our ability to cope with our struggles and our aspirations for a better tomorrow. The film offers a timely commentary on the current state of the planet and its implications for our future. It is a poignant reminder that every one of us plays a role in the fight for survival of Earth and humanity.