Throughout the ages, exploration of the world and challenging the status quo propelled humanity out of our protective caves, across oceans, through the air, and as far as the moon. The Aeronauts examines these themes in the context of Victorian England, where norms for women and science proved equally stifling. It is an exhilarating ride up through the clouds into the upper atmosphere, where dreams can be realized and, if you are willing to take action, the sky’s the limit!

Based on the adventures chronicled in “Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air” by Richard Holmes, The Aeronauts takes us on a thought provoking and thrilling ride through the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) is a brave, young woman in Victorian London grieving the tragic death of her husband while struggling to find meaning in a world that limits her based on her gender. She meets James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne), an almost rogue-like scientist, who is determined to prove his theories that weather can be determined by studying the air. They team up for a moonshot scientific expedition to the clouds, and beyond. He to prove his scientific theories, and she finally to return to a world which holds meaning for her.

As we ascend with balloon on its journey, the story and characters are developed in well designed flashback sequences. We slowly gain understanding of each character’s struggles and motivations, and what ultimately put them on the path that brought them to this journey. The balloon ride itself is spectacular for the stunning cinematography and glimpses of a world beyond the clouds. The ride has action, peril, science, and wonder all mixed in with the tender discovery of each character.

Once hailed as a spectacular balloon pilot, Amelia is lost in a world without meaning. Since the death of her husband she seems to be in a deep depression, driven by the twin loss of her husband and her passion, ballooning. Her sister and mother encourage her to rejoin society, assuming that if she could just find a man, she will be happy again. In a telling scene, Amelia has this conversation with her sister, Antonia (Phoebe Fox):

Sister: “You could have a beautiful life in society.”

Amelia: “Out there I found happiness.”

Sister: “He was the happiness, not the damn balloon!”

Amelia is called to the action and adventure of balloon piloting: everything else in her life is dull in comparison. She is, however, limited in what society expects of her, and finds she has to fight to be seen and heard.

In contrast, it is science, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge that calls James Glaisher. He is driven by his theory that he can predict the weather through science and understanding of the air and skies (what we now refer to as meteorology). His struggle mirrors Amelia’s: he is up against the inflexible and staid scientific community of mid-19th century England. At the height of Empire, and of hubris, they believe that the world has been discovered and all that can be known is known. They liken Glaisher’s theory to fortune-telling, and refuse to listen to his arguments and ideas.

The plot keeps a good pace with numerous faced paced action scenes (in a balloon? I know, surprising, but there it is). Dialogue and character development happen either on the balloon or during flashbacks on the ground. For the most part, this works, I never get too bored with dialogue or overly agitated during the scenes of peril. There were, however, a handful of scenes that fell flat as the dialogue stalled. These scenes felt unnecessary to the story, but at 101 minutes, perhaps they were included for length. I would have preferred more explanation of the science of ballooning or early meteorology.

The movie is a visual delight, contrasting the society of Victorian England — stuffy, over-complicated, and rigid — with the simple and staggering chaotic beauty of the natural world, and the skies above. Complicated social norms on the ground fall away as they ascend, eventually leaving the characters exposed and vulnerable to each other and to the natural world. The movie compares the stiff and monotonous dance formation of society to a kaleidoscope of butterflies; or a dark and dingy London street to a land of clouds, blazing white for as far as the eye can see.

At the onset of the movie, Amelia is having a panic attack on a dirty London street. Her sister, to dissuade her from the upcoming voyage, advises “Doubt is there to be listened to.” Amelia looks past her, to the ethereal clouds and deep sky beyond, wonder on her face. Luckily for us, she (as with countless untold dreamers and strivers down through the ages) ignored that advice, for her own benefit, and that of the generations to come.

“You don’t change the world by looking at it, you change it by the way you live in it.“

Overall, The Aeronauts successfully blends the exhilaration of adventure with an astute commentary on the need to break barriers through challenging the status quo or adventuring into the unknown. The movie reminds us that it is through these continual activities that humanity progresses to new heights and achievements.

Four out of five stars

Available on Amazon Prime Video December 20th

In 1862, daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) teams up with pioneering meteorologist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) to advance human knowledge of the weather and fly higher than anyone in history. While breaking records and furthering scientific discovery, their voyage to the very edge of existence helps the unlikely pair find their place in the world they have left far below them. But they face physical and emotional challenges in the thin air, as the ascent becomes a fight for survival.

Starring: Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne
Written And Directed By Tom Harper
Story by Tom Harper and Jack Thorne
Screenplay by Jack Thorne