Directed by Jonathan Helpert, the 2019 American science fiction drama film IO stars Margaret Qualley and Anthony Mackie. The film is set in a near-future dystopian world where humans can no longer inhabit Earth due to drastic environmental changes and are forced to live on a space station that orbits one of Jupiter’s moons, called IO.
Unlike most science fiction narratives that center on action and advanced technologies, IO gravitates toward a more poetic and meditative form of story-telling. It is a film about survival and the emotions of isolation and hope, and about the abiding connection to Earth, even one that abandoned us, in the hope that it still can be saved.
Plot Summary (Clean Version)
The movie centers on a young scientist called Sam Walden, who lives in isolation on a high-altitude mountaintop, one of the world’s few remaining safe zones. Most of the planet is hostile and toxic; her isolation is a remnant of the time when most of the human population evacuated to IO, a large space colony and human bastion. Eloquently, Sam steers her environmental science work toward the hope that Earth can still be saved.
Sam spends her time performing her scientific training, controlling the communication devices, growing vegetables in the greenhouses, and writing again to anyone on Earth she might still be able to contact. She also communicates with her partner already on the space station, and she continues the work of her father, a notable scientist, who thought the Earth could heal and recover.
Sam’s solitude is broken when a stranger, Micah, arrives in his hot air balloon. He is trying to arrive for the last jet of the shuttle to IO. At the start, there is distrust and Micah’s company is tentative, but eventually, they talk, eat and reflect upon the reasons for each of them to stay or leave.
Micah shares the silence and the solitude-breaking stories of people who left and stayed, and the pervasive feeling that Earth is lost. Sam, still in belief of hope, thinks people are capable of adapting once more. She longs and searches for the signs, for life on Earth, and the change for which they both hope. Earth, in her mind still sustains life.
With time running out for Earth, Micah protests Sam’s work and begs her to accompany him to join the rest of humanity…in space. Sam still believes there is life to reclaim on her planet, and is willing to prove it. To Micah, there is no longer a survival future on Earth. Sam’s offer a relationship with Micah and the future he proposes is a distraction from the work she is meant to continue.
The conclusion of the film is at peace and open ended, and does not visually display the anticipated escape. Sam reflects on the peace that exists within her and on the relationship of humanity with their planet. It is about the work meant to her.
Main Characters
Sam Walden, portrayed by Margaret Qualley.
She is a resilient, intelligent young woman who stays on Earth. She epitomizes the emotional commitment with the planet, and is the embodiment of hope and science. She is soft-spoken but direct, which is demonstrated in the self guided research and reconnaissance she conducts to prove that humanity and the Earth can co-exist and and can heal.
Micah is a traveler and a realist. His arrival signifies a narrative shift as he challenges Sam’s beliefs and compels her to face uncomfortable truths. His down-to-earth perspective comes from the lessons he has learned through his personal challenges and losses. Despite these differences, he and Sam share a bond built on honesty, understanding, and mutual respect.
Themes
- Environmental Responsibility
At its core, IO is about the consequences of ignoring our planet. The film does not use flashbacks to depict the slow uninhabitable deterioration of Earth, but it does suggest the gradual environmental collapse. Sam has dedicated herself to science and to understanding the remaining signs of life and observing the potential of assisted survival.
- Hope and Human Resilience
Sam’s conviction in the potential restoration of Earth is a powerful display of human resilience. When all signs suggest she should give up, she remains, she watches, and she believes. The film captures this as a form of hope, which is not a blind, irrational optimism, but a rational and deliberate decision in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Isolation and Connection
The film depicts the emotional pain of solitude. Sam passes her days engulfed in silence and routine, and filled with an unspeakable longing. When Micah comes, Sam begins to envision the idea of connection, one that is not just survival, but semblance of purpose. Micah and Sam’s relationship, albeit quiet and slow, is pivotal to the emotional core of the story.
Science and Adaptation
Rather than portraying the genre of science fiction with futuristic technologies, IO understands that science is in observation, patience, and in the art of discovery. Sam’s research notes the small, yet important, indicators of change, the return of the bees and the blossoming of the flowers. This serves as a reminder that understanding is the first step to adaptation.
Tone and Atmosphere
IO is a slow-paced, meditative film. There is quietness in the scenes that extends to the audience. Most of the scenes focus on Sam as she tends to her plants, writes, reflects on the sky, or runs her experiments. This stillness, however, is not an invitation to peace, but a reminder of a world that has become hollowed out.
The cinematography reflects this calm yet haunting isolation. The film intentionally eschews dialogue and gives much of the screen time to wide, soft, and natural light scenes to evoke emotional complexity in the audience.
The soundtrack is faint and minimal. Most of the time, the sound of wind, machinery, and the natural world comes to the front. This highlights the absence of sound and augments the immersive quality of the piece.
Message and Conclusion
IO does not revolve around the trope of saving the world with a singular, magnificent effort. Rather, it is about small choices, personal responsibility, and the stamina to keep trusting—even when the odds appear stacked against you. It poses an intriguing question. What do you do when everyone has gone and you are the only one left?
Sam’s supposed decision to remain on Earth mirrors the idea that hope does not always come in the form of escape. It is often in the act of rebuilding: slowly, thoughtfully, and with great responsibility.
In place of an overt finale, the film concludes with a point for contemplation. It prompts the question, What would I do in her position? Is it better to start fresh in a new place, or to restore what is left and try to reclaim it?
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