The Dark Side of the Moon: Understanding the Unknown

After my first session of watching Moon I was left with a lot of unanswered questions and confusion in regards to various aspects of the film. Why exactly can the clones only survive for three years? Why are they implanted with memories instead of just being programmed to do their job? Why can’t they know that they’re clones? Why is the moon supposed to be the mecca of clean energy when it seems as if it would actually be more harmful than the current energy sources on earth? These questions, among other potential inconsistencies left me pondering explanations for such little background information in the plot.

After my second and third rounds of screening Moon, I realized that I was not going to be provided with an answer to my numerous questions. Then I suddenly had an epiphany (not literally) that it’s alright that we aren't provided with every little detail. Why is the moon suddenly the source of clean energy? Because the movie is called Moon and the setting obviously needs to take place on the moon. It is also noteworthy that the setting takes place on the light side of the moon rather than the dark. The dark side of the moon or “the far side of the moon” which it is commonly referred to as is typically a symbol for the unknown. Just like the common debate of “light versus dark” and “good versus evil”, the movie Moon grants us an amount of information on the light side of the moon, while the dark side of the moon can be representative of the unknown details of the film.  

In addition to the dark and light sides of the moon, the lighting on the inside of the moon station is equally important. The lighting inside the moon station is blindingly white which is almost unbearable to look at (at least for me). However, it provides a great sense of the setting for the audience because we further understand that artificial lighting is the only light source available on the moon. This blinding light is also a great indication of the sense of isolation Sam must feel. In several Sci-Fi and time travel movies that I've seen in the past, I've noticed that characters often find themselves all alone in a different dimension in what looks to be an endless white room. The white lighting provides us with the sense of isolation felt inside the station, but it also indicates the isolation of being on the moon as well.

In contrast to the bright white lighting, the dark lighting in the basement contributes a completely different perception. While in the basement, the two Sams feel the exact opposite of isolation when they encounter a seemingly endless amount of clones. They realize that there are many inactive clones like them that are just waiting to be activated as soon as the current clones die. One of the Sams is so overwhelmed that he immediately returns to the light into his familiar isolation.

So as we can see, the elements of setting and lighting in the film are interrelated and feed off of each other. The lighting helps to advance the sense of the setting for the audience, while the setting assists us in understanding the variations of lighting.