Silent Running

Description

A visually stunning and heartfelt riposte to the emotional sterility of Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, Douglas Trumbull's eco-themed Silent Running (1972) became one of the defining science-fiction films of the seventies. Bruce Dern excels as lonely hero Freeman Lowell, cast adrift in deep space with three robotic 'Drones' who become his 'amazing companions' on a journey 'beyond imagination'. Mark Kermode, writing on his favourite science fiction film of all time, traces Trumbull's sentimental masterpiece from its roots in the counter-culture of the sixties to its enduring appeal as a cult classic in the 21st century. Drawing on a new interview with Trumbull, Kermode examines both the technical and thematic elements of this uniquely moving space adventure, which continues to be mirrored and imitated by film-makers today. This special edition features original cover artwork by Olly Moss.

MARK KERMODE is a writer and broadcaster. He is chief film critic for The Observer, and co-presenter of Kermode and Mayo's Film Review on BBC Radio 5 and The Film Review on the BBC News channel. He is the author of several books including Hatchet Job, It's Only a Movie, and The Good, the Bad & the Multiplex, and has written two BFI Modern Classics volumes on The Exorcist and The Shawshank Redemption. His television documentaries include On the Edge of Blade Runner, Alien: Evolution and Hell on Earth: The Desecration and Resurrection of Ken Russell's The Devils.

An avid, near-lifelong fan, Mark Kermode would seem to be the perfect choice for writing a BFI Film Classics monograph on Douglas Trumbull's environmentally conscious science-fiction film Silent Running (1971)... A fascinating account... Here Kermode's obsession with the film (he has collected Silent Running memorabilia for 40 years) serves him well -- Sight& Sound * Barry Keith Grant * Kermode's elegiac introduction defines what makes a cult movie as well as nailing down the appeal of this counter-culture classic. Extracts from an exclusive interview with director Douglas Trumbull and Kermode's perceptive observations make this an invaluable companion for fans of the film. -- Good Book Guide