The greatest science fiction film of all time is not “Alien,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “The Thing,” or even “Interstellar,” but rather a film you’ve never heard of: 2007’s “Man From Earth.”
Adapted from a book of the same name, the movie received little attention upon its release. Produced on a $200,000 budget in just eight days, the movie made small waves when it initially came out but was quickly forgotten. The film asks a simple question: “What if a man from the upper paleolithic had survived into the modern day?”
The cast is filled with theater and small-screen actors, with the only big name being the late, great Tony Todd. David Lee Smith plays the protagonist, John Oldman, a history professor who unexpectedly resigned after a 10 year career.
His colleagues, all of whom are also professors who specialize in anthropology, archaeology, art history, biology, and psychology, surprise him at his home as a farewell. They are also joined by Oldman’s partner and a student of the archaeology professor.
During this gathering, Oldman tells his colleagues he is 14,000 years old and is only leaving because people are beginning to notice he hasn’t “aged a day” in 10 years. What starts off as a chat between friends becomes an intellectual and, a very, emotional conversation between academics.
The entire film is set in and around Oldman’s home, particularly his living room with all the characters conversing on Oldman’s claim. The film touches on death, love, religion, a sense of belonging, the limitations of human biology, the advancement of humanity, and more.
The characters all have varying reactions to Oldman’s claim. Some take him seriously, keeping an open mind about his stories, some have full breakdowns as his stories become more and more believable, and some even threaten him as they cannot handle some of his claims.
The realization that Oldman may be telling the truth, contrary to what the audience might have originally assumed, is what really keeps the viewer watching. The way the conversation evolves as Oldman’s claims begin make more sense and the attitudes of the characters change from immediate rejection to soft scepticism is masterfully shown on screen.
The film has had a major impact on my life. The knowledge of characters, the way they talk about their beliefs, thinking and emotions, and the overall lessons of the film made me the person I am.
When I first watched the film at 12 years old, I aspired to be like Todd’s character, the anthropologist. The way he carried a conversation as an intelligent and humble person without bullshit, kept an open mind to Oldman’s claim and stories, and knew how to handle his emotions in the face of such a life-altering revelation made me want to be like him.
If you have an interest in anthropology, biology, religion, history, science fiction, or just want a good film to watch on a Sunday night, I highly recommend that you watch this short but incredible film.
Image credit: Youtube
Leave a Reply