One of the more forgotten science stories of the 1990s is Biosphere 2. For two years, eight people locked themselves in a man-made ecosystem dome. It combined several living environments, from a rain forest to a desert; if successful, it could be used to sustain human life on other planets. This had the potential to change the world, in a possible post-Earth society. It was a failure.

This project garnered significant media attention when it debuted, but has since fallen into obscurity. Nowadays, Biosphere 2 and people’s familiarity likely comes from the panned comedy Bio-Dome. And really, association with a Pauly Shore vehicle is a fate worse than death.

Matt Wolf looks at this unique story with the newest documentary Spaceship Earth, available now in virtual cinemas. Through a sleek combination of interviews and archival footage, Spaceship Earth is entertaining, if somewhat disappointing at points.

Its Humble Beginnings

The aspect Wolf finds most interesting about Biosphere 2 is looking at its development from a historical context. Therefore, the film dives deep into the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s. Of course, important figures to Biosphere 2 like John Allen and Kathelin Gray get their necessary discussion. The “Syngergists”, a group of hippie actors that Allen was a part of, also see discussion. But it’s through the context of the times Wolf looks at this experiment.

Wolf takes this communal living experiment, and gives it great respect. Of course, the film dives into the experiment’s shortcomings, and not every figure has a positive light. But there’s a sense he admires its ambition and messaging. There’s emphasis on the media and how they took Biosphere 2 and morphed it into a wacky hippie project rather than a project with scientific merits. There’s even one cameo near the end that took me by surprise.

Wolf takes the project and frames it as a unique tragedy. A ragtag group of hippies use their activism to promote communal living, only to get exploited and taken down by the big media. It’s bold, fascinating stuff, and Wolf uses his interviews and archival footage to drive the point forward to great effect.

A Bit Too Jumbled

All that said, there is something disappointing in terms of what Wolf focuses on. The film tackles multiple subplots in order to set the scene and explore the greater context. However, the actual events in the Biosphere are somewhat glanced over. It’s there for sure. There’s plenty of talk about the shortcomings, failures, and relationships found in Biosphere 2. But it isn’t until an hour in we get to see what is arguably the most interesting aspect of the story.

And while the rest of the subplots and ideas aren’t bad, it is sadly not compelling enough to excuse the lack of attention in the film proper. It leads into a story that is interesting enough, with some tedium, and a feeling there could be something more.

To Sum Up…

Spaceship Earth is solid enough fare. There’s a nice look into idealism versus capitalism that makes it work as a whole. However, it fails to meet its potential, as director Matthew Wolf seems to focus less on the one aspect most viewers would find most intriguing. And while it’s important to recognize this is a director’s vision, I’m still not sure if this fully works as is.

Related: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?