Review of Silent Running (1972) by Andrew C — 09 Jul 2008

Still a pertinent film, message-wise, although the gaps in logic stand out (especially why an ecology ship would take a far orbit around Saturn and why its chief gardener would then spend ages realising that the lack of sunlight is killing the plants).

Beyond that, Dern is excellent, portraying a character who values his arborial cargo more than his crewmates, and the three robot drones are astonishingly empathic.

Joan Baez's hippy/folk soundtrack songs get on the nerves, but the final image of the last forest floating off into space, tended by the lone robot drone will stay in my mind forever.