Passage to Mars

With a title like Passage to Mars, one might assume this film would involve spaceships and the Red Planet. But Jean-Christophe Jeauffre's documentary doesn't reach for the heavens; instead it follows a six-man expedition that travels 2,000 miles across the Arctic to Devon Island, Canada, where a research center is established for the training of potential future missions to Mars. The real adventure is the journey to Devon, which is accomplished in the Okarian—a souped-up five-ton Humvee designed for the Arctic landscape that develops mechanical difficulties along the way. The voiceover narration is taken from a diary kept by NASA scientist and team leader Pascal Lee, but instead of Lee, Jeauffre instead uses the voice of actor Zachary Quinto, whose seemingly sole qualification for the job was being cast as Spock in the rebooted Star Trek films (the film also features “guest voice appearances” by Buzz Aldrin and, of all people, Charlotte Rampling). The strongest element here is Mark Carroll's cinematography, which brilliantly captures the harsh beauty of the Arctic—indeed, it often looks like an otherworldly environment. Extras include audio commentary by Jeauffre and a behind-the-scenes featurette. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)