The story is Jerome Bixby's last work, which he completed on his deathbed in April 1998. Bixby dictated the last of the screenplay to his son, screenwriter Emerson Bixby. After Jerome Bixby's death, the script was given to Richard Schenkman to direct on a budget of just US$200,000 . The film was shot in eight days after a week of rehearsals.
The Man from Earth
(2007)14
" From one of the acclaimed writers of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone comes a story that transcends both time and space…"
| Country | |
| Runtime | 1 hr 27 min |
| Budget | $200 000 |
| Premiere: World | November 13, 2007 |
| Premiere: USA | November 13, 2007 |
| Digital: World | October 23, 2009 |
| Production Companies | |
| Also Known As | Jerome Bixby's The Man from Earth United States |
Description
An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he has a longer and stranger past than they can imagine.Сast and Crew
Stars
Director
Camera
Writer
Composer
Videos Stills Posters Filming Screenshots Covers Logo
Production
Sign up and you will see here
friends impressions of the movie.
Friends comments and ratings
A small-scale science fiction drama by Richard Shankman, written by Jerome Bixby, one of the creators of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. It is a dialogue film, where the idea comes first, not the visuals. A perfect example of how a strong script and good actors can create a great movie on a minimal budget.
The plot begins with a farewell party for Professor John Oldman, who suddenly confesses to his colleagues that he has actually been living on Earth for 14,000 years. He claims to have been a Cro-Magnon, witnessed the rise of ancient civilizations, and observed human history as a witness, hiding from century to century. The conversation, which began as a joke, gradually develops into an intellectual and emotional test for everyone present.
The film is entirely dialogue-driven. The action takes place in one room, with no change of locations, effects or action. But thanks to the well-thought-out script, the viewer remains glued to the screen: the themes of history, religion, memory, time and mortality are presented with elegance and provocation.
David Lee Smith as John Oldman is understated but compelling, his calm and assured delivery creating a performance that both evokes trust and doubt. The rest of the cast, who come from a variety of academic disciplines, add to the tension, offering intellectual and emotional challenges.
The strength of the film is in its ability to stimulate the imagination. The viewer himself draws millions of years of the hero’s memories, gets carried away by hypotheses and begins to ask himself the same questions as the characters.
"The Man from Earth" is a rare example of science fiction where science and philosophy are above spectacle, and the emotional effect is achieved through ideas. Slow, profound and absolutely fascinating film for the thinking viewer.
A film-length conversation by the fireplace on the topic of history, religion, life. It’s very addictive and sometimes amazing. Gives some interesting topics to think about.
After re-watching, the former intriguing merits evaporate, and there were no intellectual ones, since the scriptwriters did not dare to ask questions that the mind is not enough to answer. Do not watch the sequel under any circumstances, it will destroy all the pleasant impressions of the original.
A small, mysterious, cheap, but atmospheric fantasy film without fantasy
The idea of the film is mega interesting. It was filmed modestly, of course, but it is one of those films that leave you deeply thoughtful. A particularly powerful moment is when the old man recognizes his father in the main character. And this is not the last unexpected plot twist.
I like that the film focuses on dialogue and thoughts rather than showy scenes, which is rare in modern cinema.
Proof that you can make an interesting and profound film even with a small budget and no-name actors.
Rating: 8.3/10
The film is a dialogue; for lovers of a good story and acting, the film will be a great success. I didn’t expect from myself how 1.5 hours flew by, although there were no big special effects or locations.
I rewatched it years later and I think it’s worth raising the bar. The film is about everything eternal that people have. And in my opinion he himself aspires to become such
An incredible film, from the first frames it immerses you in a cozy atmosphere and begins the narration of a mysterious story. The action of the film does not leave the room, but it is impossible to tear yourself away. You want to watch it again, which I do. Such films are rare.
All the action takes place in one room, but the film is amazing. Everything is played out very interestingly
Interesting actor David Lee Smith, in modern American cinema, of course, such a type, old Hollywood man, is not in demand. Good, wise text, entertaining smart logicians, secretly want to believe (like all of us), a kind of detective of a closed space.
A purely hypothetical question that has occupied me for a long time – if some random person lived almost forever, would he inevitably come to a state of some kind of wisdom/holiness, having gone through all possible crises? Or is it still not?
So soft and affectionate about everything in the world. A very warm film.
A fairly simple low-budget chamber film. However, this did not stop him from being kind and fascinating, with an intriguing, extraordinary plot that involves people in reasoning, which is difficult to forget even after 14,000 years.)
A great idea that resulted in 80 minutes of chatting about nothing. It seems like smart people spend the entire film listening to a psycho with an emotionless face, asking the wrong questions and getting answers from history books. There are too many logical holes and inconsistencies, you don’t believe the story, the ending is empty
Add a short review
280 characters