The majority of satellites orbiting Earth are for communication purposes. These “cosmic links'' connect humans from around the globe with pools of knowledge and innovation that bridge educational and social divides. Elon Musk’s SpaceX may be celebrated for designing, manufacturing, and launching advanced rockets and spacecrafts, but an equally impressive feat is its Starlink program, which has already launched over 1,500 satellites to bring state-of-the-art internet connectivity to the remotest parts of the world.

As Starlink Vice President Jonathan Hofeller puts it: “To me, it feels like when you are watching those satellites fly across the sky, and even when they’re orbiting, in my mind it’s this peaceful dance.” This collective dance of the satellites orbiting our planet is reinterpreted in this film through an exquisite light dance choreographed by Sadeck Waff. Where the likes of Musk and Hofeller might look to outer space, Waff looks to nature on Earth for inspiration.

“There is magic everywhere, the key is knowing how to look and listen in silence,” says the French choreographer whose hypnotizing light murmurations add emotional depth to a technology that we use every day but never see. “Like a cloud of birds forming waves in the sky, each individual has their own identity but also has an irreplaceable place in the whole.”

The link between space and Earth is like a web of synapses. From access to information, the global economic system, and more, this cosmos critically empowers lives and represents the role of an equalizer for the world. In this sense, space reminds us that we are not alone; we can connect with and enable one another.

The film serves as an opportunity to think about the necessity of humans shifting from the spectator role of the Anthropocene into the actor role towards a more positive future. It introduces the series of ‘Return to Earth’ interviews as part of the documentary film experience The Space That Makes Us Human.