Film Recommendation - The Man from Earth (2007)

A man telling a story that you really want to hear!

Sci-fi movies are generally associated with, stunning visuals, larger than life characters and a fast paced, action-packed roller coaster ride. Well, American writer Jerome Bixby showed that what you actually need is just a pen and piece of paper and a really good idea; the very foundation of science fiction.

Director Richard Schenkman's 'The Man from Earth (2007)' is one of the most intelligent, clever science-fiction films I've seen in a very long time. It is based on the novel by American sci-fi writer Jerome Bixby.

The film starts very simply with the central character John Oldman (David Lee Smith) packing his truck, and then joined by colleagues of his who have come to wish him farewell. However, they cannot help but express how puzzled they are about his leaving, since he has established himself very well as a professor and is well liked. Each time he is asked, John either avoids the question or gives an ambiguous answer. He eventually responds to them by posing a hypothetical question about what a man would be like if he had lived since prehistoric times. This question starts an innocent discussion, but changes in tone as John claims to be a caveman who has survived for 14,000 years without aging and always disappears every 10 years otherwise people would find his secret. The discussion that follows by intellectual arguments between Jhon and his fellow faculty members is the premise of the movie. The entire film is set in and around Jhon’s house and is composed almost entirely of dialogue

The conversation is captivating; the casting is excellent, the structure of the story, set within one location, is impressive. In one room this movie has analyzed the concept of biology, history, religion, anthropology, and best of all human emotions. There are no flashbacks or special effects. Just the philosophical discussion it provokes is enough to keep you hooked. It does contain lot of scientific facts explained in a very convincing and rational way. Kind of make you think about revisit on origin of religion, culture, language and evolution.The whole movie is just a simple idea. An idea adapted smoothly into one of the best sci-fi ever written. It has a unique taste that will go on even after the movie ends. If you are the type of person that likes to have thoughts provoked inside of you and prefers a film to engage you on an intellectual level, then this film is definitely for you. 

It's available on Amazon Prime and Telegram for all to enjoy. I believe the movie could be put into comparison with a magic night which you never want to end. It is mature, deep, complex, and thoroughly enjoyable.  The story is so perfectly knitted together that you want to be part of it. You feel like you are sitting in the same room and everything is happening around you. Now tell me, won't you love a movie which makes you want to live it? Watch it and see what you think.