The War of the Worlds: Next Century
Encyclopedia
The War of the Worlds: Next Century is a 1981 Polish film
by Piotr Szulkin
which is inspired by the classical novel of H. G. Wells
, The War of the Worlds
. It had its premiere on 20th February 1983.
The film starts with the arrival of a more advanced civilization from Mars
which purports to have a friendly attitude towards Earthlings. The place visited by the Martians
resembles a police state
in which a huge role is played by television, which is used as a propaganda tool.
The main character of the film, Iron Idem (Roman Wilhelmi
) is a news presenter who has a popular TV program, Iron Idem's Independent News. However, the news that is presented on his program is carefully chosen by Idem's boss (Mariusz Dmochowski) who later orders the kidnapping of Idem's wife (Krystyna Janda). Iron Idem is forced to collaborate with the state apparatus, which is controlled by blood thirsty Martians, and encourages people to give blood.
After being thrown out of his flat, Idem has a chance to observe stupefied citizens who fall victim to the repression of the state apparatus. Finally, the main protagonist rebels and criticizes society during a TV Super Show which is a concert organized as a farewell to the Martians.
On the day after the Martians departure the Earth’s mass media change their perception of the whole situation and the visit from Mars is viewed as an aggressive invasion and Iron Idem is shown as the main collaborator. He is sentenced to death and killed but only on the television screen. In reality he leaves the television studio and steps into the outside world which is covered by mist.
Cinema of Poland
The history of cinema in Poland is almost as long as history of cinematography, and it has universal achievements, even though Polish movies tend to be less commercially available than movies from several other European nations....
by Piotr Szulkin
Piotr Szulkin
Piotr Szulkin is a Polish film director. He directed over 30 movies and received about 50 awards, Polish and international, including Best science-fiction Film Director at Eurocon, 1984...
which is inspired by the classical novel of H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
, The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds is an 1898 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells.The War of the Worlds may also refer to:- Radio broadcasts :* The War of the Worlds , the 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles...
. It had its premiere on 20th February 1983.
Plot
The film starts from the position close to the literary inspiration suggested in the title, but rather from developing it in the same manner as the novel it is used as a witty commentary on the political situation of Poland in the period of the Polish People's Republic.The film starts with the arrival of a more advanced civilization from Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
which purports to have a friendly attitude towards Earthlings. The place visited by the Martians
Martian (War of the Worlds)
The Martians, also known as the Invaders, are the fictional race of extraterrestrials from the H.G. Wells novel The War of the Worlds. They are the antagonists of the novel, and their efforts to exterminate the populace of Earth and claim the planet for themselves drive the plot and present...
resembles a police state
Police state
A police state is one in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population...
in which a huge role is played by television, which is used as a propaganda tool.
The main character of the film, Iron Idem (Roman Wilhelmi
Roman Wilhelmi
Roman Wilhelmi was a Polish theatre and film actor, notable for his roles in two of the most popular Polish television series of the 1980s....
) is a news presenter who has a popular TV program, Iron Idem's Independent News. However, the news that is presented on his program is carefully chosen by Idem's boss (Mariusz Dmochowski) who later orders the kidnapping of Idem's wife (Krystyna Janda). Iron Idem is forced to collaborate with the state apparatus, which is controlled by blood thirsty Martians, and encourages people to give blood.
After being thrown out of his flat, Idem has a chance to observe stupefied citizens who fall victim to the repression of the state apparatus. Finally, the main protagonist rebels and criticizes society during a TV Super Show which is a concert organized as a farewell to the Martians.
On the day after the Martians departure the Earth’s mass media change their perception of the whole situation and the visit from Mars is viewed as an aggressive invasion and Iron Idem is shown as the main collaborator. He is sentenced to death and killed but only on the television screen. In reality he leaves the television studio and steps into the outside world which is covered by mist.