AT THE CHAZEN: CINEMATIC MESSAGES FROM OUR PLANET
In conjunction with the Chazen Museum of Art’s multimedia exhibit, Message from Our Planet (Feb 19–June 2), the Cinematheque has curated three science fiction features which all play with the idea that media technologies―from vintage devices to cutting-edge digital algorithms―offer distinct ways for artists to communicate with future generations, encapsulating the artifacts and ambitions of contemporary society. Since the entire exhibit was inspired by the interstellar time-capsule Voyager 1, a spacecraft containing a record of human culture launched into outer space by NASA in 1977, what better way to begin than with John Carpenter’s Starman, a fanciful love story that begins with an alien landing on earth (just outside of Madison, Wisconsin!) after receiving Voyager’s invitation and message of peace. The series also includes Joe Dante’s Explorers, a 1980s cult classic about three boys who combine psychic messages from space with a derelict amusement park ride in an effort to meet extraterrestrials. Plus, Nicolas Roeg’s classic The Man Who Fell to Earth, featuring David Bowie as an interstellar visitor who provides humankind with a handful of technological advances that make him very wealthy, but can do little else to alleviate his loneliness.
In conjunction with the Chazen Museum of Art’s multimedia exhibit, Message from Our Planet (Feb 19–June 2), the Cinematheque has curated three science fiction features which all play with the idea that media technologies―from vintage devices to cutting-edge digital algorithms―offer distinct ways for artists to communicate with future generations, encapsulating the artifacts and ambitions of contemporary society. Since the entire exhibit was inspired by the interstellar time-capsule Voyager 1, a spacecraft containing a record of human culture launched into outer space by NASA in 1977, what better way to begin than with John Carpenter’s Starman, a fanciful love story that begins with an alien landing on earth (just outside of Madison, Wisconsin!) after receiving Voyager’s invitation and message of peace. The series also includes Joe Dante’s Explorers, a 1980s cult classic about three boys who combine psychic messages from space with a derelict amusement park ride in an effort to meet extraterrestrials. Plus, Nicolas Roeg’s classic The Man Who Fell to Earth, featuring David Bowie as an interstellar visitor who provides humankind with a handful of technological advances that make him very wealthy, but can do little else to alleviate his loneliness.
STARMAN
USA| 1984 | 35mm | 115 min.
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith
Responding to the real-life Voyager I probe’s message of peace, an extraterrestrial visitor spectacularly crashes its own spacecraft just outside of Madison, WI and takes on the form of a recently deceased earthling (Bridges, in an Oscar-nominated performance). The dead man’s grieving widow (Allen) reluctantly accompanies the gentle-but-awkward alien on a road trip to the Southwest, all the while dodging dangerous government officials in an effort to meet the Starman’s connecting flight home. This sweet, funny, and handsomely photographed interstellar love story was a highly successful departure for action and horror specialist Carpenter.
USA| 1984 | 35mm | 115 min.
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith
Responding to the real-life Voyager I probe’s message of peace, an extraterrestrial visitor spectacularly crashes its own spacecraft just outside of Madison, WI and takes on the form of a recently deceased earthling (Bridges, in an Oscar-nominated performance). The dead man’s grieving widow (Allen) reluctantly accompanies the gentle-but-awkward alien on a road trip to the Southwest, all the while dodging dangerous government officials in an effort to meet the Starman’s connecting flight home. This sweet, funny, and handsomely photographed interstellar love story was a highly successful departure for action and horror specialist Carpenter.
