Elysium (film)
Heaven can't wait. He'll risk everything to get there.
Elysium (2013) is a dystopian science fiction film written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, set in a future where the wealthy live on a pristine, space-based habitat called Elysium, while the rest of humanity struggles on a ravaged, overpopulated Earth. The film follows Max De Costa (Matt Damon), a factory worker who, after a fatal radiation exposure, embarks on a desperate mission to reach Elysium to access its advanced medical technology. Blending cyberpunk aesthetics with social commentary, Elysium explores themes of class division, immigration, and technological inequality, earning praise for its visual design and action sequences.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Neill Blomkamp
- Producer
- Simon Kinberg / Bill Block / Neill Blomkamp
- Starring
- Matt Damon / Jodie Foster / Sharlto Copley / Alice Braga / Diego Luna / Wagner Moura / William Fichtner
- Music
- Ryan Amon
- Cinematography
- Trent Opaloch
- Editing
- Julian Clarke / Lee Smith
- Production Companies
- TriStar Pictures / Media Rights Capital / QED International / Alphacore / Kinberg Genre
- Distributor
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- Released
- 7 August 2013 · Taiwan · 2013 · 08 · 09 · United States
- Runtime
- 109 minutes
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English / Spanish
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the year 2154, the Earth is a polluted, resource-starved wasteland, policed by ruthless android law enforcement. The elite have retreated to Elysium, a massive rotating space station equipped with advanced medical beds that can cure any disease or injury instantly. This stark divide is enforced by strict immigration policies and a defense system that shoots down unauthorized spacecraft. The film’s protagonist, Max De Costa, is a former car thief turned factory worker who is exposed to a lethal dose of radiation. Given only five days to live, he agrees to a dangerous heist: uploading a data chip containing a reboot program for Elysium’s central computer, which would grant citizenship to all Earth residents and access to the medical beds.
Reader's Guide
Elysium was released on August 9, 2013, by Sony Pictures Releasing through the TriStar Pictures label, in both conventional and IMAX Digital theaters. It received positive reviews but was considered a disappointment after the success of Blomkamp's first film, District 9. With a budget of $115 million, Elysium was TriStar's most expensive film. It grossed $286.1 million worldwide. The film's social commentary on immigration, health care, and class inequality was deliberate, with Blomkamp stating it reflects the contemporary human condition. The production involved shooting Earth-bound scenes in a dump in Mexico City and Elysium scenes in Vancouver and wealthy Mexican suburbs. The film's visual effects were handled primarily by Image Engine, with exosuits created by Weta Workshop.
Did You Know?
- The film's visual effects were created by Blomkamp's own studio, Image Engine, which also worked on his earlier film District 9.
- Sharlto Copley, who plays the ruthless mercenary Kruger, improvised many of his character's violent mannerisms and dialogue on set.
- The design of Elysium's ring-shaped habitat was inspired by real-world concepts for O'Neill cylinders, a type of space settlement proposed by physicist Gerard K. O'Neill.
- Ryan Amon's score for the film incorporates a mix of orchestral and electronic elements, reflecting the cyberpunk blend of high-tech and decay.
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