In a rare move, instead of recommending The Pod Generation by itself, I’m asking you to pair the sci-fi indie with another one from the same ilk, After Yang.

The Pod Generation creates an intriguing perspective of the future.  In this vision from writer/director Sophie Barthes (Cold Souls, Madame Bovary), couples who aspire to be parents can choose to hold their pregnancies in mobile incubators or “pods”.  This method adapts the same encouragement (and occasional passive-aggression) as other fertility alternatives the audience is more familiar with; opening the material up to satire although the filmmaker isn’t necessarily interested in that approach. 

Barthes proposes ideas and encourages excitement – like a far less cynical version of Netflix’s Black Mirror series.  The motive behind this storytelling isn’t for the filmmaker to boast their own creativity, but rather to anticipate hopeful possibilities.  This curiousity is portrayed very well by Emmy nominee Emilia Clarke (HBO’s Game of Thrones) and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave).

While futuristic movies like The Pod Generation and After Yang may be “all vibes” and feel too laid-back or anti-climactic (or not bleak enough for sci-fi pessimists), it;s undeniable that these stories tap into comforting nuances.  Although the films are depicting fantasies, the material is still tied to relatable feelings that not only brings characters closer together, but also finds a connection to its audience through catharsis.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie