Museum of the Moving Image New York, NY
Alexander C. Stahn
Assistant Professor of Medical Science, Penn Medicine; Member, European Space Agency’s Isolation Steering Committee focusing on the neurobiological effects of gravity
Gravity— [DRIVE-IN] The effects of social isolation
Program Description
Cuarón’s unparalleled outer-space adventure, is introduced by a physician who specializes in the effects of social isolation on the brain.
Dr. Alexander C. Stahn—member of the European Space Agency’s Isolation Steering Committee focusing on the neurobiological effects of gravity and extreme environments and developing strategies for future isolation and confinement studies—explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the study of the effects of isolation.
Presented At
Museum of the Moving Image New York, NY
Film Synopsis
A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.
Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission. Her commander is veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), helming his last flight before retirement. During a routine spacewalk, disaster strikes; the shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky stranded with no link to Earth and no hope of rescue. As fear turns to panic, they realize that the only way home may be to venture further into space. Gravity received 10 Academy Award nominations, and won seven, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.