FILM REVIEW | THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH

photo manipulation by nacrowe

normally i'm pretty ambivalent about sci-fi films since they more often than not rely on spectacle and set/prop design to propel the narrative rather than an interesting conceit, which is ironic given that science fiction as a literary genre is the inverse of that.  in sci-fi literature, future/alternate technology is compelling given its effect on humankind and their decisions relationships to each other.  perhaps this focus on spectacle in films is why sci-fi films become dated fairly quickly.

british director NICOLAS ROEG's THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (BRITISH LION FILMS, 1976) starring DAVID BOWIE is one of those rare sci-fi films that reaches literary expectations.  its narrative consists of an alien being who reaches earth in search of water in order to save his home planet.

what impressed me about this film is the "realistic" conceit that an alien would attempt to fit into human society by utilizing its knowledge and technology to prosper in our global economy.  i can't think of any other film that showcases the exploitation of alien technology as a means of gathering economic and political influence.  the cliche is obviously military action, but here economic dominance ensures undiluted power without all the bad aspects of fame and notoriety.

or so it would seem.  the idea of an alien coming into our world and excelling in it, only to become alienated by capitalism is reminiscent of PLATO's "Allegory of the Cave."  what does that say about human society if an intelligent being with now bias towards humankind is corrupted by it.

that is the central question of the film in my opinion.  what does that say for the rest of us?