Proxima: Eva Green in French astronaut drama

Space movies more often than not track one man as he takes on the great unknown above the clouds. But astronauts, like any other working adults, have fears and families, interior lives to live while the rest of the world keeps spinning.

In recent years, the genre has only expanded – First Man told Neil Armstrong's story; James Gray depicted a fictional mission in Ad Astra. But slowly the tables are turning and women are being invited to tell their stories too – we had Gravity, we had Lucy in the Sky, now we have Proxima.

Eva Green stars as a talented astronaut tasked with a new mission, but a longstanding commitment to her daughter before she leaves. While the film concerns outer space, most of it takes place firmly on the ground.

The film marks a welcome return for director Alice Winocour, who previously greatly impressed with Disorder (starring Matthias Schoenaerts and Diane Kruger) and the Turkish coming-of-age success Mustang.

Green has often starred as femme fatale-type characters – and while these have all been convincing, to see the actress take on such a stimulating, physical new adventure will be a breath of fresh air. Make sure to catch Proxima when it skyrockets into cinemas on 17 April 2020.