Movie
Orion's Quest
Cultural messages
What Makes Us Human?
mediumOrion is a non-human alien whose assigned research mission to understand love gradually transforms into a personal journey toward belonging and self-discovery — blurring the line between programmed directive and genuine feeling. The film uses his outsider perspective to reflect on what defines human intimacy and connection, specifically through the lens of Black queer love. Two signals are present: (1) the story explicitly blurs programmed behavior and genuine feeling (mission becomes self-discovery arc); (2) the alien engages deeply with the emotional terrain of human love — joys, vulnerabilities, and relational nuance — suggesting the non-human character is more attuned to love's meaning than a detached scientific assignment would imply.
About this message: As the line between humans and non-humans blurs — AI, clones, aliens, robots — the story forces a reckoning with what truly defines humanity: biology, consciousness, memory, emotion, or moral choice.
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Full plot (spoilers)
Orion's Quest is a 15-minute sci-fi short film set against a ticking clock: an extraterrestrial being named Orion (played by Dyllon Burnside) must complete his mission to understand love before a powerful eclipse occurs. Having already studied love among various human groups, Orion's final assignment is to observe and comprehend the romantic and dating dynamics of Black gay men. To do so, he goes on a series of dates and encounters, immersing himself in the lived experiences and unique emotional terrain of this community. The film incorporates humor and cultural specificity—including commentary on hookup culture norms—and blends a futuristic sci-fi aesthetic with drag performance elements. A character named Queen Polaris (played by Michelle Mitchenor) also features. Through his interactions, Orion discovers not just abstract definitions of love but the particular joys, vulnerabilities, and challenges that shape Black queer intimacy. By the time the eclipse looms, his quest becomes as much a journey toward belonging and self-discovery as an alien research mission.
Sources: TMDb overview, Letterboxd (film page), web search aggregate (Prideindex, GLAAD, CGIIIbase)