Watch Silent Running

Silent Running is a science fiction movie directed by Douglas Trumbull that was released in 1972. The plot is set in the future where the earth has become devoid of plant life, and nature is extinct. The only remaining forests and flora are contained in large biodomes traveling through space. The plot centers around one such biodome called Valley Forge, a manned spacecraft.

Bruce Dern stars as Freeman Lowell, a botanist and caretaker of the Valley Forge. Lowell's primary responsibility is to maintain the forests in the biodome and to observe and care for the creatures that live within. Cliff Potts and Ron Rifkin play Freeman's colleagues, but they are mainly secondary characters.

The story is set in the year 2001, and the world has changed drastically. The government has decided to terminate the mission of the Valley Forge and destroy the forests within. This decision is made due to the cost of maintaining the ship and the fact that there is no longer any interest in preserving nature on earth. Lowell, who has become attached to the forests and their inhabitants, is devastated by the news and becomes determined to save the plant life aboard the Valley Forge.

Lowell makes the decision to disobey orders and save the forests by taking the biodome away from the spaceship and towards the outer reaches of space. Lowell's actions go against government protocols, and he becomes a fugitive at large. Lowell is aided in his mission by three drones, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, that he has reprogrammed to help him.

The story takes the audience on a thrilling ride as Lowell and the drones travel through space, attempting to preserve the last remaining forests. As they venture further into space, their journey becomes more treacherous. As they face numerous obstacles, Lowell forms an emotional bond with the drones, who become his co-pilots in a cosmic race to save the trees.

The movie explores the themes of nature conservation, commercialism, and individualism. The character of Freeman Lowell represents an everyman, who fights against authority for his beliefs. The movie is a treatise on the importance of preserving nature and the price society pays for its destruction.

The film was made shortly after the first moon landing, and the special effects are ahead of its time, considering it's over forty years old. The scenes in which Lowell and the drones journey through space are thrilling, and the images of the forests and vegetation are both beautiful and tragic. The score is by Peter Schickele and the soundtrack conveys the poignancy of the story perfectly.

Silent Running is a classic science fiction movie that is arguably ahead of its time as a cautionary tale about the importance of preserving the natural world. The movie has become a cult classic as it illustrates the struggle between humanity and nature in a unique and gripping way. If you are a fan of science fiction that has real-world implications, Silent Running is a film you won't want to miss.

Silent Running is a 1971 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 67.