The Man From Earth

The Man From Earth

My good friend Tanjot suggested that I watch 'The Man from Earth' (available on Netflix instant play). He said it was a thinker's movie and that I'd like it (at this, I couldnt help but feed my vanity a little). The story is the last work of science fiction writer Jerome Bixby.


This is probably the most sedentary science fiction that I have ever watched or ever will. No alien life forms and their evil plans, no space ship voyages or hunts for Beryllium spheres and certainly no ghastly creatures out to render mankind extinct. The movie commences with some gentle banter among university professors gathered to bid farewell to one of their own, John Oldman, who has decided to move on from his teaching life. On being pressed for his reasons John reluctantly reveals that he is, in fact, a prehistoric caveman who has survived for about 14000 years and that his sudden departure is part of his survival mechanism.Things take an interesting turn at this juncture. Initially, all of John's friends want in on his supposed shenanigan and play along by asking questions and trying to disprove the very possiblity of such a bizarre claim. What follows is a fascinating journey from Mesopotamia to present day America.

What struck me inititally was that John's friends were willing to partake, some of them eagerly so, in what they thought was a game. Interesting to see that a highly educated group of people can have a constructive discussion on almost any topic as long as it provides enough fodder for their intellect: John's audience included an archiologist, an anthropologist and a biologist amongst others. It maybe unknown to makers, but this feature of the movie bears testimony to the fact that the right education can open our minds to whole new avenues. Avenues where it is OK to pose questions that take us out of our comfort zones and think about 'What If'.

The strory takes another interesting turn when the faculty discusses religion, faith, morality and the existance of God. There is a thinly veiled supposition that it is just fine to refrain from not committing to the two extremes of godly and godless because, simply put, no one of us knows any better. But what we do know are the universal tenets of morality or simply put again, what not to do because its just plain wrong.

Finally, the movie has a short but telling denouement. I recommend everyone to watch this movie but I don't guarantee that all will like it. Watch it on a lazy sunday afternoon, ponder over it for a while and think about what questions would you ask if you were ever to come across such an extraordinary individual.