The 1972 film is still relevant today, not only because of its urgent ecological message, but also because of its groundbreaking set designs – which have clearly been inspired by the work of the architect Buckminster Fuller. Director Trumbull himself was also a major figure: he created the special effects for many legendary sci-fi films, from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) to Blade Runner (1982). Viewed as a cult classic, Silent Running inspired countless sci-fi films, among them Star Wars.
A selection from the media about the screening [Dutch only]:
‘Focus: Day and Night of Architecture: cult classic Silent Running‘, Jos van den Burg, Filmkrant
‘The terrifying topicality of a fifty-year-old feature film‘, Wies Sanders & Marina van den Bergen, Archined
The film inspired dancer Hassani – who is a programme maker at HipHopHuis and represents both Suriname and the Netherlands in international dance battles – to create a special performance which served as an introduction to the screening.
[photography: Aad Hoogendoorn]
About Silent Running:
‘If you haven’t seen it, you need to see it. Why? Because it looks fabulous, and up until this day, it remains one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen. It is an absolute masterpiece, and it’s better than 2001,’
Mark Kermode, filmcriticus voor de BBC
The year is 2001: the earth is uninhabitable; humankind has destroyed nature through pollution and neglect. The USS Valley Forge spacecraft orbits Saturn with on board the planet’s last remaining trees and plants. Will the botanist Freeman Lowell succeed in saving humanity’s last hope?
