I recently went to the Alice Springs Cinema with my daughter to watch the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary. And I’ll admit—much to my shame—it had been a long time since I’d stepped inside our local cinema.
We loaded up with popcorn, drinks, M&M’s, and choc tops—the rituals of a proper cinema visit—and chose a spot in Cinema 1.
Watching a film with other people is a communal experience. Laughter becomes infectious. A moment lands differently when you hear a whole room react at once. It felt, in the best possible way, like everyone in that cinema was going to the movies for the first time. Dazzled by the big screen and swept up in the simple joy of it all.
Set in the vastness of space, the story follows two lone astronauts facing an extraordinary challenge far from their home planets. It isn’t overly intense, but it does carry darker undertones—their planets' suns are slowly dying due to microscopic parasites feeding on their stars/suns, and the two main characters are tasked with finding a solution to an almost impossible problem. And yet, the movie never feels heavy because at its heart, it’s a story about connection and friendship.
And if, like me, you leave the cinema wanting just a little more time in that world, the book is waiting for you.
You can pick up Project Hail Mary in-store at Red Kangaroo Books—a perfect companion whether you like to read the story before seeing it on screen, or revisit it afterwards.
If you’ve been feeling a little weighed down by global events, this is the kind of story—on screen or on the page—that offers a breather.
Next time you’re choosing what to do, head to the cinema and support a local space where stories are still shared together.
