Future of the Past
Introdution: Stephanie Plappert, Exhibitions Curator at DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum (Frankfurt)
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, the masters of Soviet sci-fi, wrote the original novel that demonstrates with unyielding honesty how thin the line between civilization and barbarism really is. Set in the distant 22nd century, humans dispatch scientific observers to another planet where medieval conditions still prevail. The researchers, including skilled swordsman Rumata, study how society develops amidst natural conditions. But can they truly refrain from interfering? It says a lot about the role of the genre that the name of one of the characters in the novel had to be changed before publication because it happened to be an anagram of Beria, the name of the feared head of Soviet state security.
Supporting film: Fight (6)
Hungarian animation, bw, 1977, dir: Marcell Jankovics, No dialogue, 3’
Distributor: Nemzeti Filmintézet - Filmarchívum
More information on the Budapest Classic Film Marathon's program at Uránia >>