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Silent Running
1972 89 min United States of America G 12+
★6.6
Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama
Director: Douglas Trumbull
Trailers
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Description
After the entire flora goes extinct, ecologist Lowell maintains a greenhouse aboard a space station for the future with his android companions. However, he rebels after being ordered to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with everyone but his mechanical companions.
Budget:
$1M
Starring
Bruce Dern
Actor
Cliff Potts
Actor
Ron Rifkin
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Silent Running is a poignant, low-budget science fiction film that serves as a sincere meditation on environmental stewardship and human isolation. While audiences and critics appreciate its lasting visual influence and Bruce Dern's intense performance, the film is divided by its slow pacing and the perceived moral ambiguity of the protagonist's actions.
| Acting | Bruce Dern delivers an unhinged and compelling performance that anchors the film's emotional weight. | |
| Originality | The robotic companions, Huey and Dewey, provide uniquely touching and memorable character moments. | |
| Direction | Douglas Trumbull’s visual direction and space vistas demonstrate technical craftsmanship that has proven highly influential. | |
| Theme | The film's environmental message is viewed by some as a heartfelt, poignant call to stewardship, while others find the delivery labored and overly didactic. | |
| Pacing | The deliberately contemplative tempo creates an immersive atmosphere for some, but is viewed by others as a sluggish and purposeless slow burn. | |
| Ending | The climax is praised as a beautiful and touching finale by some, while others critique it as predictable or narratively abrupt. |