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Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 90 min · English
Echo score 34
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Directed by
Timo Vuorensola
Starring
Udo Kier, Emily Atack, James Quinn, John Flanders, Julia Dietze, Kit Dale
Budget
$8M

After a nuclear war devastates Earth, humanity’s remnants find refuge on a moonbase. As resources become scarce and conflict rises, the leader's daughter, Obi, discovers a mysterious map hinting at a powerful, buried source. This leads her and others on a perilous journey into Hollow Earth, where they face an ancient reptilian enemy determined to extinguish the last vestiges of humankind.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Iron Sky: The Coming Race
  8. 8 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Iron Sky: The Coming Race Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Obianaju Washington

    played by Lara Rossi

    Obianaju Washington is the resilient leader of Neomenia's survivors, deeply committed to maintaining the base's life support systems. With her lineage tied to both James Washington and Renate Richter, she embodies the hope for a new beginning amidst chaos. Obi's courage and resourcefulness lead her on a critical mission that could determine the fate of humanity.

    • 💪 Leader
    • 🛠️ Resilient
    • 🌌 Survivor
  • Wolfgang Kortzfleisch

    played by Udo Kier

    Wolfgang Kortzfleisch, the former Moon Führer, is a complex character shrouded in secrets and the enigmatic lore of the Vril race. His revelation about the extraterrestrial powers adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative, positioning him as a mentor to Obi while also raising the stakes for humanity's survival.

    • 🦎 Mysterious
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Mentor
    • 📜 Ancient
  • Sasha

    played by Vladimir Burlakov

    Sasha is the pilot of the refugee ship and plays a crucial role in assisting Obi on her quest. His expertise in navigation and survival in treacherous territories proves invaluable to the group. With a strong sense of loyalty and bravery, he is a vital ally in the fight against existential threats.

    • ✈️ Pilot
    • 🤝 Loyal
    • 🛡️ Brave
  • Malcolm

    played by Kit Dale

    Malcolm serves as the security officer and protector of the group, ensuring their safety during their perilous journey. His strong instincts and combat skills are put to the test as they navigate dangerous territories. His dedication to the mission showcases his bravery and commitment to the wellbeing of others.

    • 🔒 Protector
    • ⚔️ Brave
    • 🌍 Defender
  • Donald

    played by Tom Green

    Donald leads a group of Jobsist followers, highlighting the rise of cult-like ideologies in the face of desolation. His character reflects the complexities of belief and fanaticism as society searches for purpose after catastrophe. He plays a significant role in shaping the group's dynamics and moral compass.

    • 👥 Cult Leader
    • 📜 Ideologue
    • 💡 Charismatic

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:23

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Setting

Where and When Does Iron Sky: The Coming Race Take Place?

The setting of Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

2047

The year 2047 is a post-apocalyptic future where Earth has been devastated by nuclear war, leading to a fragile peace among the remaining survivors. The remnants of humanity struggle to adapt to their harsh conditions on the moon while battling the residual ideologies from the past. This time period is marked by conflict, survival, and the emergence of influential cults.

Location

Neomenia, Agartha, Hollow Earth

Neomenia, the former Nazi moon base, has become a fragile refuge for Earth's survivors after a nuclear catastrophe. It's marked by dilapidation and dwindling resources as residents strive for coexistence with the ex-Nazi faction. The mythical Agartha, situated deep within the Earth, is described as a subterranean paradise that holds secret powers, while the treacherous Hollow Earth represents the uncharted dangers lurking beneath.

  • 🛰️ Sci-Fi
  • 🌌 Fictional
  • ⛰️ Underground

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:23

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3 major themes

Iron Sky: The Coming Race Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    Survival is a central theme in the film as humanity grapples with the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse. The characters must navigate their relationships with their past enemies, the Nazis, while ensuring their continued existence in a hostile environment. This struggle to survive highlights the importance of unity and the capacity for adaptation in dire situations.

  • Destiny

    Destiny plays a pivotal role, particularly through the character of Obianaju Washington, who is thrust into a mission that could shape the future of humanity. Her journey toward Agartha and the retrieval of the Vrilia symbolizes the intersection of fate and choice, raising questions about the path humanity must take to secure its survival against looming threats.

  • Exploration

    Exploration is intertwined with the quest for resources and knowledge, as the survivors venture into the unknown realms of Hollow Earth. The journey signifies the human spirit's relentless desire to explore despite overwhelming odds, emphasizing the theme of discovery and the connectivity of different worlds and cultures.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:23

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Character & theme questions

Iron Sky: The Coming Race Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Iron Sky: The Coming Race set?

The movie takes place primarily on Neomenia, a former Nazi moon base that has become humanity's last refuge after nuclear war devastates Earth. The story also ventures into the Earth's interior, exploring the mythical realm of Agartha and the dangerous Hollow Earth beneath the surface.

  • neomenia
  • moon base
  • hollow earth
  • agartha
  • setting
Q2

When does the movie take place?

Iron Sky: The Coming Race is set in the year 2047, a post-apocalyptic future approximately three decades after a global nuclear war that rendered Earth uninhabitable. This time period places the story in a world where humanity has retreated to a moon colony and must confront both internal conflicts and ancient threats.

  • 2047
  • post-apocalyptic
  • future
  • nuclear war
  • time period
Q3

What is Vrilia in Iron Sky: The Coming Race?

Vrilia is the mysterious and powerful substance hidden beneath the Earth in the realm of Agartha. It represents the key to humanity's survival and serves as the driving force behind the characters' dangerous descent into Hollow Earth. The Vril race, an ancient reptilian enemy, guards this power source.

  • vrilia
  • vril
  • agartha
  • power source
  • reptilian enemy
Q4

Who is Obianaju Washington in the movie?

Obianaju Washington, portrayed by Lara Rossi, is the leader of the survivors on Neomenia and the daughter of James Washington and Renate Richter. She is tasked with maintaining the moonbase's life support systems and embarks on a critical mission to retrieve Vrilia from Agartha, potentially determining humanity's fate.

  • obianaju washington
  • lara rossi
  • leader
  • survivors
  • protagonist
Q5

What is Wolfgang Kortzfleisch's role in Iron Sky: The Coming Race?

Wolfgang Kortzfleisch, played by Udo Kier, is the former Moon Führer who now serves as a mentor to Obianaju Washington. He possesses crucial knowledge about the Vril race and their extraterrestrial powers, making him essential to understanding the ancient threat facing humanity.

  • wolfgang kortzfleisch
  • udo kier
  • moon führer
  • vril
  • mentor
Q6

How does the movie handle its Nazi background?

The film continues the satirical tone of its predecessor by depicting ex-Nazis who now coexist with Earth survivors on the moon base Neomenia. This complex dynamic explores how former enemies must work together for survival after civilization's collapse, blending dark humor with commentary on reconciliation and human adaptation.

  • nazi
  • ex-nazis
  • neomenia
  • survival
  • coexistence
Q7

What are the main survival themes in the film?

Survival is the central theme, with humanity grappling with the aftermath of nuclear devastation. The characters must navigate relationships with former enemies while ensuring their continuation in a hostile environment. The film emphasizes unity and adaptation as essential for survival in desperate circumstances.

  • survival
  • nuclear war
  • adaptation
  • unity
  • humanity
Q8

How does destiny play into the story?

Destiny manifests through Obianaju Washington's journey, as she is thrust into a mission that could shape humanity's future. Her quest to reach Agartha and obtain Vrilia represents the intersection of fate and choice, questioning whether humanity's survival depends on predetermined destiny or the decisions people make.

  • destiny
  • fate
  • obianaju washington
  • choice
  • prophecy
Q9

What does the journey into Hollow Earth represent?

The descent into Hollow Earth represents exploration as a fundamental human drive, even in the face of overwhelming odds. This journey into the unknown signifies humanity's relentless spirit of discovery, connecting different worlds and cultures while seeking new resources and knowledge for survival.

  • hollow earth
  • exploration
  • descent
  • journey
  • discovery
Q10

Who is Donald in Iron Sky: The Coming Race?

Donald, played by Tom Green, leads a group of Jobsist followers, representing the rise of cult-like ideologies in the desperate post-apocalyptic world. His character illustrates how societies search for meaning and purpose after catastrophe, reflecting the film's satirical elements through the Steve Jobs cult.

  • donald
  • tom green
  • jobsist
  • cult
  • steve jobs
Q11

Is Iron Sky: The Coming Race a serious sci-fi movie?

Despite its dark premise of nuclear apocalypse and human extinction, the film blends science fiction with comedy and satirical elements. The tone is dark but tempered by humor, particularly through the Jobsist cult, reptilian villains, and the absurdity of the Nazi moon base setting.

  • comedy
  • satire
  • tone
  • dark humor
  • sci-fi comedy
Q12

What is the reptilian enemy in the film?

The Vril are an ancient reptilian race that dwells in Hollow Earth and guards the powerful Vrilia. They represent an existential threat to humanity, with intentions to extinguish the last survivors. This ancient enemy adds a sci-fi element to the post-apocalyptic setting.

  • reptilian
  • vril
  • enemy
  • threat
  • hollow earth

Movie threads

More Movies Like Iron Sky: The Coming Race, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Iron Sky: The Coming Race tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Satire movies like Iron Sky: The Coming Race

Bizarre, high-stakes sci-fi adventures that expose human folly through dark humor. If you enjoyed the darkly comedic and bizarre world of Iron Sky: The Coming Race, explore more movies that mix apocalyptic sci-fi with sharp satire. These films feature high-stakes survival, strange concepts, and a critical eye on human folly, offering a similar blend of adventure and cynical humor.

  • satirical
  • apocalyptic
  • bizarre
  • tense
  • grim
  • adventurous
  • Tone: dark, satirical
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often begin with a cataclysmic event or a revelation of a hidden truth, sending characters on a perilous journey. The narrative uses this adventure framework to introduce exaggerated factions and ideologies, pitting characters against absurd yet dangerous enemies as a way to critique real-world issues, all while maintaining a fast, often chaotic pace.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared DNA of combining high-intensity sci-fi action with a satirical, often darkly humorous tone. They share a focus on apocalyptic or conspiratorial settings, use bizarre concepts to explore serious themes, and deliver a viewing experience that is both thrilling and intellectually provocative.

Movies about journeys to Hollow Earth like Iron Sky: The Coming Race

Perilous expeditions into forgotten realms beneath the surface of our world. Fans of the dangerous descent into Hollow Earth in Iron Sky: The Coming Race will enjoy these other films about expeditions into subterranean worlds. Discover movies featuring ancient races, lost civilizations, and terrifying creatures in underground realms, all centered on high-stakes exploratory adventure.

  • adventurous
  • tense
  • anxious
  • bizarre
  • mythic
  • urgent
  • Tone: dark, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, perilous
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a catalyst—a map, a legend, or a crisis—that prompts a journey into an unknown, subterranean domain. The journey is fraught with physical danger and existential threats, often pitting the explorers against an ancient, powerful race. The plot revolves around survival, discovery, and a climactic confrontation that determines the fate of both the underworld and the world above.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their core premise of exploring a mythic 'Hollow Earth' or similar vast underground setting. They share a mood of adventurous dread, a fast-paced structure of discovery and conflict, and themes of encountering the ancient and unknown, creating a specific subgenre of sci-fi and adventure fiction.

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Every angle

Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Iron Sky: The Coming Race in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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