Mariya Somova’s I Want to Live on Mars portrays a stunning portrait of something that once was, offering the viewers a look in on what happens to those left behind by the rest of the world. Set in a nearly abandoned exurban town in Pennsylvania, the film follows Pickles, a young woman living alone and struggling to care for herself, as she begins to open herself up to others.

I Want to Live on Mars beautifully depicts the reality of poverty in America and the many different ways it can look through its colorful cast of characters and the destitute area it is set in. The setting of this film is absolutely stunning, full of houses left victim to time seen through discolored peeling wallpaper, broken doors, and unkempt lawns which immediately introduce the viewers to the difficult lives the characters live as the few remaining in this area. The costuming also plays an important role in doing so, the vaste difference between Breezy, the new girl in town, and Pickle’s wardrobe hard to ignore as Breezy appears freshly showered in relatively new and clean clothes across from Pickles’ unbrushed hair, dirty fingernails, mismatched shoes, and old oversized outfits.

The slow-paced introduction of the film acts as a heartfelt depiction of loneliness, showing the main character, Pickles, living alone in this poverty stricken town, surrounded by abandoned homes and only able to get what she needs by stealing the remaining furniture and clothing from them. The viewers are introduced to her as she wanders the town alone and plays pretend because that is the only thing there is to do. Similarly to a child, Pickle pretends to make phone calls, watch movies, and have conversations with her only friends: a rabbit and an old doll.

What starts out as a silent observation of Pickles’ life as she struggles to get by on her $2 per hour wage and isolated lifestyle turns into a heartwarming depiction of found family and the necessity of connection to others with the arrival of Breezy, a lively girl with a complicated relationship with her mother and the reality of her new life.

The seemingly reserved Pickles starts opening herself up to others after meeting Breezy, talking with her coworker Robbie and the newly arrived Mike. The group finds comfort in each other, forming a found family and making sure everybody is taken care of in their own ways, their newfound bond showing the importance of connection to others in order to survive. Aside from keeping each other fed, clothed, and offering shelter the group also offers each other what many else would not, humanity. Feeling left behind by the rest of the world in their decaying town they find a connection in each other that makes them feel seen, understood, and cared for regardless of their dirty appearances or struggles with mental illnesses.

Breezy’s character arc throughout the film is one of my favorite things about it, as she starts off so separated from the rest of the people living in the area until she eventually becomes one of them. The young woman’s frustration with her sudden change of lifestyle can be seen in everything she does, as she complains about the lack of phone service and shuns her mother for the things she did that led them there. Breezy starts as a self-centered and grudge holding girl who, through her friendship with Pickles and acceptance of a traumatic event, let’s go of her desire for material things. The girl who originally complained about losing everything, willingly gives up all that she has left because she no longer feels she needs anything as long as she is with her person. 

Though Pickles and Breezy may not know exactly where they’re going when they set off on their adventure at the end of the film, one thing is for certain, they are no longer remaining victims of their situations and are taking their lives into their own hands with each other acting as the spark they needed to do so. This film is beautiful, both visually and plotwise, and is such a fun watch!

I Want to Live on Mars screens at the 2024 New Jersey International Film Festival on Friday, June 7! The film will be available online for 24 hours on this day and will also be shown in-person at 7:00 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Tickets are available for purchase here.

The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center, in association with the Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies, presents the 2024 New Jersey International Film Festival which marks its 29th Anniversary. The NJIFF competition will be taking place on the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 31 - June 9, 2024 and will be a hybrid one with online as well as in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. The in-person screenings will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. 

Plus, The NJIFF is very proud to announce that acclaimed singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler will be in concert on Saturday, June 15 in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ at 7PM.  General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program.; General Admission Marissa Nadler Concert Ticket=$25.

For more info go here: https://2024newjerseyinternationalfilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome