Producer Thanks Pirates For Stealing His Film or "The man from Earth"

[alexandral]

I came across The man from Earth in this article: Producer Thanks Pirates For Stealing His Film. This seemed to be an interesting attitude (and worthy of an applaud as far as I am concerned :D). The film is very thought-provoking. Cinematoraphy-wise it is fine, done in a way resembling a low-budget theatrical play (conversations mostly, no action and everything filmed in a single room), but it is one of the films that can make you change the way you view some things...




It all started at the Professor John Oldman's leaving do. John was reluctant to leave as he seemed to be fond of his colleagues and mildly in love with one of them, Linda. As his colleagues kept asking why he is leaving John decided to tell them what appeared to be the truth : that he is a cave man who is not aging at all and that he had survived thousands and thousands of years. That he is something of 140 thousand years old.. The colleagues passed through a short "we don't believe you at all" stage but after a while, seeing that John is very serious and also that he is a man whom they really trust, began to believe his story. And here everything began. Aggravated by the fact that John claimed that he had known Buddha and .. that HE, JOHN, WAS JESUS.

John's colleagues reacted sstrangely. They were very different people : biologist, historian, psychologist, Christian theologian. But they all said similar things:

- Biologist : and you are telling me that I completely misunderstand the way human body works?
- Historian: And you are telling me that some of historical events are not what I believe them to be?
- Theologian: And you are telling me that my beliefs are wrong???
- Psychologist : And you are telling me that my psychological tricks don't work on you?
- All : And we hate you because you live forever and we all are going to die!!!!!!

None of them seemed to want to know more, to understand more about the way of things.. Why John is what he is? What or Who made him this way? What about many things in the history that we don't understand? All seems to be such a waste of a GREAT opportunity!

There were few smaller things I didn't like or found over-looked, especially that John didn't seem to be concerned with his friends' future or why otherwise (with his unlimited resources of time) didn't he try to find out what stops the aging in his body and how to make everyone live forever.. But overall I liked the film, very much.

I don't know if anyone else have seen this ! Please do and tell me what you think :D.

Comments

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

Am watching this right now. It's very interesting and thought provoking.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so glad you are watching this! I have been dying to discuss. This film made me think too, particular of the way we easy miss and shrug off opportunities on our way because of our pre-conceived ideas and mistrust. All these people had such a chance to find out more about the things they are interested at and they missed it. They could have found why John is not aging!!!!

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

well, humanity fixates, and among these people there were a couple that wanted to learn. The young girl and Dan were the most open, the most accepting. What scares people, is the idea that their faith might not mean anything because there is this person who says that he was around for most of history and has seen the ways in which it doesn't fit. That would shake a lot of people, supposedly rational people depend more on their faith than they would admit, and they resent that being questioned.

And that girl, at the end, she noticed that his name was a bit of a joke, and I don't think she was fooled by his denials. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

well, humanity fixates, and among these people there were a couple that wanted to learn. The young girl and Dan were the most open, the most accepting.

Yes, there were some but not many. :D The girl was in love with John so I guess this helps..

I would vaguely "understand" the theologian lady who was offended by John's insistence that he was Jesus. But only from outside POV.. I am a Christian but when I hypothetically imagine myself in her position I would (after a certain period of checking his credentials) imagine myself exclaiming "EEEEE! Jesus! And you knew Buddha! And all religions are connected! EEE!". Because from the point of view of a person who believes in divine nature of things there are stacks of explanations that don't deny your faith but prove it instead. For one – Jesus is standing next to you and he is still alive and for the second – there is something "special" about John. But at the same time this is my own position and I understand that for others every aspect of their religion becomes something they don't want to challenge.
Update: I had a thought and I think it is silly for me to say that I know how I would behave in one or another situation. And even more - who am I to judge others?

What I understand less is the positions of the biologist and the historian. But I guess this is what you are saying.. "That would shake a lot of people, supposedly rational people depend more on their faith than they would admit, and they resent that being questioned." Yes, this crossed my mind before too. Even when people claim that they have a rational and logical approach to things there are sometimes areas that have become "faith" or "religion" of some kind. Some things we are not prepared to change or question. But still, these are scientists, people who are supposed to have an inquisitive mind..

I am not criticizing the characters in particular I just wish as humanity we could do better..

My apologies for lengthy ramblings. I hope you liked the film!

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

I think for Edith, it was especially hard, because here is this man, supposedly young, who she liked, a lot, and thought of as a friend, who seems to have lost his mind, and when he won't stop, she can't reconcile the two sides of him. To her, it seems cruel. Notice how she had very little trouble dealing with him saying that he had met Van Gogh. That was one thing, her faith, another thing entirely.

:) Lengthy ramblings are always enjoyable.

I love the film and am going to press it on as many people as I can. *g* Have already told father 'there is this great movie that I think you will like, and it's thought provoking, sci-fi without any of the sci fi stuff'.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Notice how she had very little trouble dealing with him saying that he had met Van Gogh.

I am forgetting some bits already :D. I think I think at the beginning she just thought this was a joke. I was expecting her to behave this way to some extent. The reaction of Art (historian) and Harry (psychologist) surprised me more.

sci-fi without any of the sci fi stuff'.

I hope they will never make a re-make (with flash-backs of John running after mammoths and escaping the cross in graphic detail). Sometimes is is so much better when some things are left to imagination.

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

Yes, Art and Harry had interesting reactions, Art had a lot of trouble, dealing with his own problems, and Harry enjoyed quite a bit of it.

I don't think that Bixby's son would let anyone remake it, after all he was thrilled that he found one director who got the point of it, and he left his old manager because they wanted him to make a bigger picture.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

and Harry enjoyed quite a bit of it.

He certainly did. I also thought he was (successfully) playing Edith and John's son, making (to some extent) them react the way they did. May be because he was used to be the "alpha" of this circle?

I don't think that Bixby's son would let anyone remake it

I honestly hope so, the film is good as it is. The only minus of the film I felt and still feel is that I would have expected John to have more concern for his colleagues. I didn't understand why in all these thousands of years he didn't try to find out why he is the way he is. May be others could live forever too?

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

I think John thought that his colleagues might be able to handle it. When it didn't work out as he expected, he backed off. He chose to reveal himself to people of learning, who are by reputation supposed to be open to new ideas, but who he found have just as many issues as anyone else.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yes, I expect him to get tired of the same things happening again and again in his 140 thousand years. But stiil - 140 years? In such a long time may he could have developed the "eternal life" vaccine?

PS: If it is fine - Can I add your LJ to my friends list? I am having a great discussion and I noticed some fabulous fan-fiction in your LJ I want to keep the track of. It is totally fine if you say no and there isn't any other obligation attached.

[(Anonymous)]

Even if he did try to develop the vaccine, it didn't seem to work on his own children- Will was his son, but he was suffering from medical problems, so I bet that John realized there was no guarantee that his blood, or genetic advantage would be passed along.

Oh yes, go right ahead, and I shall add you to my list. :) I too love good discussions.

[transtempts.livejournal.com]

Even if he did try to develop the vaccine, it didn't seem to work on his own children- Will was his son, but he was suffering from medical problems, so I bet that John realized there was no guarantee that his blood, or genetic advantage would be passed along.

Oh yes, go right ahead, and I shall add you to my list. :) I too love good discussions.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It seems that the film was more about the reaction of John's friends than about looking for explanations..

Thank you!!!!!!!!