A crew receives orders to jettison and destroy domes containing a variety of plants, crops and animal life on a spaceship. However, Freeman Lowell, one of four crewmen aboard, the resident botanist and ecologist has other ideas.
Brilliant environmentally-themed science fiction with lead Bruce Dern. Director Douglas Trumbull’s pacing with Aaron Stell’s editing may not be for everyone, but the intimate character building coupled with a melancholic mood is the beauty of Silent Running.
Charles F. Wheeler cinematography is as good as the first rate special effects, both practical and optical especially the spaceries and spacecraft. Peter Schickele’s score complements the outstanding visuals and Dern’s plight.
Written by Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino and Steven Bochco it’s food for thought ingenious entertainment which offers something to think about on many levels. There are plenty of topics, morale dilemmas and poignant questions. Although of its time the robots have endearing qualities, Lowell’s interactions with the robots offer sci-fi with heart. It’s a relationship with A.I. that would later be echoed in Duncan Jones’ Moon (2009).
Overall, Silent Running’s themes become more significant as time goes by, it’s a testament to Trumbull’s debut production as a whole.
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