Outer space is such a common setting in cinema that we tend to forget about the realities of space travel. As a reminder, Gravity opens with... AT 372 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH THERE IS NOTHING TO CARRY SOUND NO AIR PRESSURE NO OXYGEN LIFE IN SPACE IS IMPOSSIBLE After having seen Gravity , it comes as no surprise that director Alfonso Cuaron wanted to be an astronaut. Gravity is a film that is awe struck with the view of earth from space and of humanity's achievements in space. There are numerous satellites, labs, space stations, alongside trash and debris orbiting the planet and Cuaron places his narrative outside one of the stations in this surprisingly crowded landscape. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is in the process of completing a repair at the opening of Gravity , when Houston reports the possibility of incoming debris due Russia shooting down a satellite. Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) is the veteran space mechanic assisting Dr. Stone, mostly with banter meant
Notions of cinema.