Watch the two-part extended version as the gutted one breeds more confusion and hardly fixes any pacing issues.
Plot-wise it's basically the second angle at Orwell's take on self-sustaining totalitarian regimes with the stick being also the carrot and community effectively oppressing themselves through the means of separation, segregation and psychological conditioning.
In this particular scenario, it's the hidden signal that makes most of the population obedient as sheep and causes unfortunate minority to suffer from agonizing pain, for which they get labeled as freaks and traitors by the establishment and the majority eagerly believes propaganda, because the signal makes them easily persuaded.
The earthling crash-lands on the God forsaken planet and has to learn its tragic history and borderline catastrophic situation the remaining population is in after surviving a nuclear war and getting constantly brainwashed by their nameless 'benefactors'.
The earthling is from a progressive Star Trek future, so nothing is impossible and he feels like doing something about the suffering extraterrestrials. How will he solve this problem? Is he going to screw things up? Almost certainly, but to what degree will become apparent after watching the flick.
Worth watching for the timely (and, honestly, timeless) premise alone.
Plot-wise it's basically the second angle at Orwell's take on self-sustaining totalitarian regimes with the stick being also the carrot and community effectively oppressing themselves through the means of separation, segregation and psychological conditioning.
In this particular scenario, it's the hidden signal that makes most of the population obedient as sheep and causes unfortunate minority to suffer from agonizing pain, for which they get labeled as freaks and traitors by the establishment and the majority eagerly believes propaganda, because the signal makes them easily persuaded.
The earthling crash-lands on the God forsaken planet and has to learn its tragic history and borderline catastrophic situation the remaining population is in after surviving a nuclear war and getting constantly brainwashed by their nameless 'benefactors'.
The earthling is from a progressive Star Trek future, so nothing is impossible and he feels like doing something about the suffering extraterrestrials. How will he solve this problem? Is he going to screw things up? Almost certainly, but to what degree will become apparent after watching the flick.
Worth watching for the timely (and, honestly, timeless) premise alone.
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