Sunshine (2007) - A Psychologist Reacts | The Arkham Sessions

In the sci-fi film Sunshine (2007), a crew of ambitious astronauts and scientists are sent on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying sun. Things are going well for the crew until they stumble upon the distress signal of Icarus I, the first mission to the sun that mysteriously failed. Though most of their ship's life-sustaining resources are still intact, the Icarus I crew are found deceased, their charred bodies inexplicably huddled together in the viewing room. Meanwhile, members of the Icarus II crew become overwhelmed by their sense of wonder and awe toward the sun's growing presence. As the ship travels nearer to this cosmic miracle, the psych officer descends into an unhealthy obsession with the celestial body. The concept of "sunshine" often refers to hopefulness, happiness, and nourishment, and even the most rational members of the crew can't dismiss the profundity of their mission to save mankind from the sun's extinction. Yet, as the crew begin to experience the horrors of technical accidents and fatalities, the harbingers of humanity's limitations come into light. The film invites us into the intense emotions of the space crew, from their shared uncertainties to their heated quarrels within claustrophobic compartments. Humans make mistakes, act on impulse, and get selfish. These qualities get illuminated throughout the story, reminding viewers that we can relate to space couriers in tank tops. One positive and unmistakable quality, self-determination, lifts the protagonists out of despair and fragility. Self-determination refers to a psychological theory of human motivation which posits that people will feel conviction to accomplish great things as long as they have "competence, autonomy, and relatedness." On the Icarus II, crewmates assign one another responsibilities specific to their subject matter expertise (competence). Moreover, individuals feel a sense of control over their own futures (autonomy). Lastly, their connection to a greater purpose drives their sense of perseverance, even against the most devastating challenges (human relatedness). The push and pull between humankind's fragility and a cosmic power is sewn into a triumphant but tragic ending. Even with technology advanced enough to create a star within a star, Sunshine's fictional future society still succumbs to the glory of spiritual decadence, their humility fracturing from a sacred intimacy with a God-like entity. Perhaps humans were never meant to fly too close to the sun. Follow us on Instagram! Dr. Drea Letamendi - @drdreapsychology Brian Ward - @b_ward028 The Arkham Sessions - @thearkhamsessions Join us on Patreon! Patreon.com/ArkhamSessions