An avid, near-lifelong fan, Mark Kermode would seem to be the perfect choice for writing a BFI Film Classics monograph on Douglas Trumbull's environmentally conscious science-fiction film Silent Running (1971)... A fascinating account... Here Kermode's obsession with the film (he has collected Silent Running memorabilia for 40 years) serves him well' - Barry Keith Grant, Sight & Sound 'Kermode's elegiac introduction defines what makes a cult movie as well as nailing down the appeal of this counter-culture classic. Extracts from an exclusive interview with director Douglas Trumbull and Kermode's perceptive observations make this an invaluable companion for fans of the film.' - Good Book Guide

A visually stunning and heartfelt riposte to the emotional sterility of Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, Douglas Trumbull's eco-themed Silent Running (1972) became one of the defining science-fiction films of the seventies. Bruce Dern excels as lonely hero Freeman Lowell, cast adrift in deep space with three robotic 'Drones' who become his 'amazing companions' on a journey 'beyond imagination'.

Mark Kermode, writing on his favourite science fiction film of all time, traces Trumbull's sentimental masterpiece from its roots in the counter-culture of the sixties to its enduring appeal as a cult classic in the 21st century. Drawing on a new interview with Trumbull, Kermode examines both the technical and thematic elements of this uniquely moving space adventure, which continues to be mirrored and imitated by film-makers today.

This special edition features original cover artwork by Olly Moss.

"An avid, near-lifelong fan, Mark Kermode would seem to be the perfect choice for writing a BFI Film Classics monograph on Douglas Trumbull's environmentally conscious science-fiction film Silent Running (1971)... A fascinating account... Here Kermode's obsession with the film (he has collected Silent Running memorabilia for 40 years) serves him well" - Barry Keith Grant