Review of Silent Running (1972) by Glyn D — 12 Sep 2007

How odd that a film made 35 years ago is more relevant today than it was then. Sublimely simple and idealistic at the time because it was based on issues that had only just begun to occur, it is now almost a syllabus-compulsory educational film into the long-term effect of a cavalier attitude to the planet we live on.

Excellent performance from Dern, who has more time in front of camera than the rest of the cast put together, with the possible exception of the three robots combined (Huey, Dewey and Louie), to whom the viewer finds themselves emotionally attached before the film is over to such an extent that [spoiler alert] when one robot is swept into space, tears are almost inevitable.