Age 10+, family drama
Landing in a new town with his astrophysicist dad, 11-year-old Jim is obsessed with traveling to space. When his new school announces the annual science contest, Jim is ready to step it up. Partnering with his shy classmate, Emma, Jim has no doubts that they will not only win, but that they will successfully leave the earth’s atmosphere. Little does he know that somewhat secretive Emma has her own dreams to prove. Unbeknownst to their respective parents, the kids set out to recreate Kittinger’s ‘Excelsior’ helium balloon project (first person to reach the frontier of space in the 1960s). Nostalgic vibes infuse this story of dreams and adventure. How far should we go to reach the stars and what happens when we leave the earth? Science, imagination, and wonder drive the unlikely pair’s DIY competitive space drama, but the real adventure begins when the small community comes together on the ground.
Director Biography
Born in 1977 in Belgium, Olivier Pairoux is director of Plug ?TL a Luxembourg private commercial general-interest television channel and has been an animator and producer. He is the director of the short film, “Puzzle” (2019) and the feature, Spaceboy (2021).