Mars One 2023

Shooting for the Stars: Why "Mars One" (2023) is the Heartbeat of Modern Cinema
In an era of loud blockbusters, "Mars One" (Mars Um) arrives as a quiet, powerful reminder of why we watch movies. Brazil’s official entry for the 2023 Oscars isn't just a story about a family; it is a vibrant, soul-stirring map of human dreams in a world that often tries to extinguish them.

A Family in Orbit
Set in the aftermath of a major political shift in Brazil, the film follows the Martins, a Black lower-middle-class family living in Belo Horizonte. Each member is navigating their own private universe:

Deivinho: A young boy pressured by his father to become a soccer star, while he secretly builds telescopes and dreams of a mission to Mars.

Eunice: The eldest daughter who falls in love with a free-spirited woman and struggles with the vulnerability of coming out to her traditional family.

Tércia & Wellington: The parents, struggling with sobriety, work, and the weight of providing a future for children whose dreams feel light-years away.

Authenticity and the "Queer Joy" of Eunice
One of the most refreshing aspects of "Mars One" is how it handles Eunice’s storyline. Unlike many dramas that focus solely on the trauma of identity, this film gives us authentic queer joy. Her relationship is treated with a tender realism that mirrors the themes of Jimpa or Eldorado KaDeWe. It’s about the quiet bravery of bringing someone home and asking for a seat at the table.

The Aesthetic of Hope
Director Gabriel Martins uses a warm, intimate palette that makes the dusty streets of Brazil look like a sanctuary. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to breathe with the characters. It captures the "small-scale epic"—the idea that a boy building a telescope in his backyard is just as heroic as an astronaut launching into space.