What Really Happened To Jakub’s Dad In Spaceman?

WARNING: Contains spoilers for Spaceman.

The backstory surrounding Jakub’s father in Spaceman is only briefly explored in the new sci-Netflix drama. Spaceman, starring Adam Sandler as a cosmonaut from the Czech Republic in an alternate timeline, was adapted from the 2017 novel “Spaceman of Bohemia” by Jaroslav Kalfař. The story follows Jakub, who is tasked with gathering samples of the mysterious yet mesmerizing Chopra Cloud that randomly becomes visible in the Earth’s sky. A bizarre but friendly alien arachnid creature (voiced by Paul Dano) appears to share in his cosmic loneliness.

Spaceman was directed by Johan Renck, known for his outstanding efforts on Chernobyl (2019), Breaking Bad (2009–2011), The Walking Dead (2010), Vikings (2013), and Bloodline (2015). Despite Renck’s impressive filmography, Spaceman has received mixed reviews from critics, earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 50% as of its streaming release date of March 1, 2024. Spaceman combines many of the core elements from the novel, particularly in the contemplative themes surrounding Jakub’s marital troubles with his wife Lenka (Carey Mulligan), but leaves much of Jakub’s relationship with his father and upbringing out.

Jakub’s Father Was Killed Before The Events Of Spaceman

Jakub’s father is revealed to be “an informant of The Party” in Spaceman, meaning that he is a Communist and appears to partake in some very bad doings. In one flashback scene, it appears that a young Jakub walked in on Jakub’s father apparently torturing someone for unknown reasons. Jakub himself points out that his father was on the wrong side of history, indicating that while he loved and respected his father, he knew he had done some despicable and unforgivable things.

In another flashback scene, the barn that Jakub’s father was previously seen in has been engulfed in flames, with the younger version of Jakub crying and screaming for his dad. The film offers little to no explanation as to how Jakub’s father died and whether it was an accident, a murder, or anything else. Spaceman really doesn’t focus much on Jakub’s backstory with his dad and there seems to be no real emphasis on that relationship besides revealing some of the hardships Jakub experienced as an adolescent.

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Paul Dano’s talking arachnid creature is the most unforgettable aspect of Spaceman and has a major impact on Sandler’s Jakub whether he’s real or not.

Spaceman’s Book Reveals More Details About Jakub’s Father

“Spaceman of Bohemia” thankfully provides more information about Jakub’s father than the movie does. According to the novel, Jakub’s dad was in the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and worked for a secret agency as an interrogator, which put the family in danger. Jakub and his family were disgraced by his fellow citizens once word got out about who their father was after the Communist effort had failed, which heavily inspired Jakub to become a national hero. While all this was implied in Spaceman, it’s hardly addressed and essentially glazed over, with the majority of the conflict surrounding Jakub’s relationship with Lenka instead.

Spaceman

Spaceman is a sci-fi drama starring Adam Sandler and directed by Chernobyl director Johan Renck. The film, based on the book Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfař, follows Jakub Procházka who goes on a solo mission to space and encounters a mysterious creature as he begins to lose touch with reality.

Director

Johan Renck

Release Date

March 1, 2024

Studio(s)

Free Association , Tango Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Netflix

Writers

Colby Day

Runtime

107 Minutes