Passengers

What does this film, about the early stages of a 90 year journey on an interstellar starship, tell us about the moral status of the actions of its main character, Jim, who, in order to alleviate his own loneliness, awakens another passenger, Aurora? Is Aurora’s arc, from justifiable revulsion at Jim’s actions in waking her, to ultimately forgiving, and falling in love with him a second time, plausible? Would Aurora be able to forgive Jim if she truly believed he had no intention of telling her that he woke her? How does the film portray the misery of loneliness or isolation? Does it plumb the depths of that experience, or merely scratch the surface? How does Jim’s early decision to peruse the biographical information of other passengers, including Aurora’s, illustrate the desperation for human contact that occurs when people are alone and isolated? Does Aurora fall into Stockholm Syndrome? Would stories such as this be useful in preparing for the rigors of extended space travel? Does this movie do a good job of exploring the ethics of such voyages?