Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
John Shepherd spent 30 years trying to contact extraterrestrials by broadcasting music millions of miles into space. After giving up the search, he makes a different connection here on earth.
This short documentary is a genuinely singular piece — a tender, quietly profound portrait of obsession, loneliness, and unexpected human connection. John Shepherd's 30-year project of broadcasting music into space is a remarkable and unusual subject. The ending, revealing his relationship with his partner, delivers an earned emotional payoff that reframes the entire film. Novelty is high because the subject and the film's gentle, poetic approach are truly one-of-a-kind. Cinematography is competent and warm but modest in scope given its short runtime. Acting is not applicable in the traditional sense for a documentary, rated low accordingly. The plot arc — from cosmic searching to earthly connection — is beautifully structured even if the runtime limits depth.