Jingan

Setinanundergrounddungeoninhabitedbybundled,raggedhumanbeings,afterthenuclearholocaust.Thestoryfollowsthewanderingsofaherothroughthesituationsofsurvival.PeoplewaitfortheArktoarriveandrescuethemwhiletheirhabitatfallsapart.Delvingdeepintothedustyandlongabandondedvaultsofb-cinemainsearchoflostgemsalwaysleavesmewithabittersweettaste.Ononehandthediscoveryofunexpectedgemswherenoonewouldthinkthempossibleisarewardingexperience.Ontheotherhandthoughitmakesonewonderhowmanyoftheseremarkablelow-budgetoddities,personalloveaffairsofdirectorsneverquitefamousandnowallbutforgotten,havealmostforeverslippedfrommemory?nanycasewhatwehavehereisalittlepost-apocalypticgemfromPolandthatisreallybetterthanithasanyrightto.ThedystopiannearfutureofO-BI,O-BAfindsagroupofsurvivorsofthenuclearwarthatravagedtheEarthinhabitinganunderworldconcretebunkerandbidingtheirtimeastheywaitforthemysteriousArk,anairshipofsomekindthatwillcomeandsavethem.TheArkprovestobeanelaboratehoax,carefullydesignedtogivehopetothemalnourishedanddesperatedenizensofthebunker,whileinthemeantimethedomethatseparatestheirmiserableexistencefromthenuclearwinteroutsideisslowlycavingin.Whatfirststrikedmeaboutthemovieisthedesignofthebunkerandthedepictionofthesurvivors.Thesurvivorsaregaunt,filthyandterrible-lookingpenitents,dressedinragsandaimlesslywanderingtheneon-lithallsofthebunkerlikeautomatons.Thebunkerisarundown,seedyplace,withbrightneonlightspeeringfromallsidesliketheeyesofmalignantbeasts.Ononehanditisaslightly80’sdepictionofthedystopianfuturebutthemovieneverstoopsdowntoMADMAXcheese.Insteaditcombinesbitingpoliticalsatirewiththebleakoutlookofaworldwithnofuture,blackcomedywithbarbsonapathy,religionandpower.Thesurvivors,forexample,arefedsomekindofflourdroppingfromatubethathoversintheair-lateronwediscoverthefoodsupervisorusesbooksandtheBibleitselfasfillerforthismeagremeal.Therearemanysuchshortsymbolictouches,perhapsnotlife-changingorfaith-restoring,yetplayful,cleverandinspired.Onethingisforsure;O-BI,O-BAisnotyourrun-of-the-millsci-fischlock.Itovercomesitsmodestbudgetwithcreativityandhasgenuineartisticaspirationsbothfromawritinganddirectingperspective.Myopinionisthatitshouldhavebeenfilmedinblackandwhiteinsteadofcolourthough.Thedirectorusesatmosphericlightandshadowtogreateffectanditwouldhaveregisteredevenbetterinstarkblackandwhite.Theblue-greenneonontheotherhandoutstaysitswelcomeafterawhile.Justaminorgripeinanotherwisesolidb-moviewithitsheartsetinalltherightplaces.ImaginealessbleakTHEROAD(CormacMcCarthy)beinginjectedwiththesatireandhumourofDR.STRANGELOVEandyou’regettingthere.Seeitifyoucanfindit.

Whenwhip-smartCambodiandoctorThonyDeLaRosacomestotheUnitedStatesformedicaltreatmenttosaveherailingson,shesoondiscoversherpathwon'tbeasstraightforwardasshehadhoped.Asthesystemquicklyfailsher,pushingherintohiding,sheresolvesnottoallowherselftobebeatendownandmarginalizedandbecomesacleaningladyfororganizedcrime.Usinghercunningandintelligence,Thonyforgesherownpathinthecriminalunderworld,doingwhatevershehastosurvive.

IntheBarrioofOakSprings,liveastrongandstubborngroupofelderlyfriendswhorefusetobegentrified.Theirleader,Lupita,keepsthemtogetherasacommunity,afamily.Butlittledidtheyknow,theirbelovedBingohallisabouttobesoldtoamuchmorepowerfulforcethanmoneyitself.

Dr.Brewster’ssuicidetakesaparticulartwistwhenthepathologistdeterminesthathehadalsobeenboundandgagged.TheBrewsters,bothmedicaldoctors,ranaprivateclinicandtheirsonJohn,wholivedathome,isdoctoralcandidateinphilosophy.OnepossiblesuspectisMichaelSteppingswhothreatenedtheBrewstersandtheirnurseafterhisdaughtersufferedsevereside-effectsandisnowinavegetativestatefromabotchedoperationtwoyearspreviously.TheforensicslabdeterminesthatoneofSteppings’sthreateningletterswasalteredandMorselearnsthatBrewstermayatonetimebeenhavinganaffair,sohemustconsideranotherpossiblemotiveformurder.

Settobroadcastintwoone-hourfilms,thisfamilytreatisinspiredbytheclassicbooksofBarbaraEuphanToddandispeggedtobetheTVeventoftheseason.MackenzieCrookhastakenScatterbrookfarmandtheinfamouscharactersofthiswell-lovedtaleandinjectedthemwithatenderandauthenticcharm.Thisistheperfectfamilyadventure,packedwithafun,mischievousspiritanddeliveredwithanenvironmentalmessage.MackenzieCrook,(PiratesOfTheCaribbean,Detectorists)whohaswritten,directedandstarsasWorzelGummidge,hasgatheredahostofbothaccomplishedandbrilliantactorswhoaresettoappearinthiseagerlyanticipatedadaptation.PlayingTheGreenMan,creatorofthescarecrows,whoarrivestoScatterbrookinepisodetwo,iscomedylegendSirMichaelPalin.Hesays:“It’salovelypartforme,butthewholescriptisverymemorableandtouching,andveryfunnytoo.Itquiteskillfullyweavesinsomethingforeverybodyallthetime.”ZoëWanamaker(MyFamily,HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone)willplaytheeccentriclocalaristocrat,LadyBloomsburyBartoninepisodetwo.Shesays:“Thewholethingissocharmingandinventive.It’sthesortofthingI’dwatch.I’msureitwillbeahugesuccess.Iknowitwill-it’sdivine.”VickiPepperdine(GettingOn,TheWindsors)takesontheroleoftheformidableAuntSallyinepisodeone.Shesays:“There’ssomethingforeverybody.It’sgotthishearttoit,andyou’dbehardpushedasanadultnottoengagewithit.”StevePemberton(LeagueOfGentleman,Benidorm)willplayMrBraithwaite,thefarmer.Hesays:“Thisisthekindofshowthewholefamilycanenjoytogether.Ithasalotofhumour,alotofvisualhumourtoo,andIthinkkidswillenjoywatchingthechildrenbeingcentraltothestory.”RosieCavaliero(GentlemanJack,CleaningUp)willplayMrsBraithwaite,sheadded:“It’sastoryabouttheimagination,andchildrenescapingintothisdifferentworld.Mackenzie’sversionistotallycontemporary.”OnestowatchIndiaBrown(HettyFeather)andThierryWickens(makinghisTVdebut)willplaySusanandJohn,twocitychildrenspendingtheirsummeratScatterbrookfarmwhoquicklybefriendWorzelandbeginasummerofadventures.Thefirstepisode,TheScarecrowOfScatterbrook,seestwoyoungstrangersarriveinthevillageofScatterbrook.It’snotlongbeforeSusanandJohnencounterWorzelGummidge,theScarecrowofTenAcreField.TheirworldissentspinningintoconfusionwhentheyrealiseGummidgecomestolife.TheonlypersonmoreshockedisWorzel,whenhediscoversthatthechildrenarenotinfactfellowscarecrowsbuthumans.Theirworldsshouldnevercommunebutfatehasconspiredtocreateanextraordinaryunion.Theseasonshavestoppedandtheharvesthasn’tarrived.Therhythmofthenaturalworldisoutofkilterandthisunlikelytriomusttrytoputitright.Magic,mysteryandmayhemunfurl.Thesecondepisode,TheGreenMan,welcomesanothermysteriousarrivaltoScatterbrook.TheGreenManisthecreatorofscarecrowsandkeeperofscarecrowlore.Heisn’tatallhappythatWorzelisconsortingwithhumans.Elsewhere,localaristocratLadyBloomsburyBartonisholdingafete,withaScarecrowcompetitionthatWorzelisdeterminedtowin.WhatwillTheGreenManandWorzel’smostcompetitiverival,SoggyBogartmakeofitall?WorzelGummidgeiswrittenanddirectedbyMackenzieCrookandisaLeopardPictures,TreasureTroveProductionsandLolaEntertainmentproductionforBBCOne.ItisExecutiveProducedbyKristianSmithforLeopardPictures,LisaThomasforLolaEntertainment,MackenzieCrookforTreasureTroveProductions,withrightsholdersPatrickD.PidgeonandEricS.RollmanexecutiveproducersforPidgeonEntertainment,Inc.ItisproducedbyGeorgieFallonandAlexMoodyistheCommissioningEditorfortheBBC.Furthercasting:FrancescaMills-EarthyMangoldTimPlester-ClartyColinMichaelCarmichael-SoggyBogartAndrewJamesSpooner-FlatAlistairPhilHulford-HannahHarrowTomMeeten-HMSOdneyChristopher-RobertBarlow-RagBagKiranShah-ChopperandRootBoundCharlieMayhew-RustleSprouterLucyMontgomery-JackiePuddingGusBrown-OswaldPollypopMalikIbheis-TrikeBenLangley-DriverMariamHaque-Receptionist

Blackholesstandatthelimitofwhatwecanknow.Toexplorethatedgeofknowledge,theEventHorizonTelescopelinksobservatoriesacrosstheworldtosimulateanearth-sizedinstrument.Withthistooltheteampursuesthefirst-everpictureofablackhole,resultinginanimageseenbybillionsofpeopleinApril2019.Meanwhile,Hawkingandhisteamattacktheblackholeparadoxattheheartoftheoreticalphysics-Dopredictivelawsstillfunction,eveninthesemassivedistortionsofspaceandtime?Weavingthemtogetherisathirdstrand,philosophicalandexploratoryusingexpressiveanimation."Edge"isaboutpracticingscienceatthehighestlevel,afilmwhereobservation,theory,andphilosophycombinetograspthesemostmysteriousobjects.

Basedonthebestsellingbookofthesamename,TheBeckoningSilencefollowsmountainclimberJoeSimpsonashetakesononeoftoughestchallengesofhiscareer.FreshfromhishorrificordealinthePeruvianAndes-asrecountedintheOscar-winningdocumentary"TouchingTheVoid"-SimpsonattemptstoascendthetreacherousNorthFaceoftheEiger,amountainthathasclaimedthelivesofmorethan60people.Facedwithgrowinganxietyanddoubt,Simpsonpushesonwardandupwardinhisunyieldingquesttotraversesomeoftheworld’smostinhospitableterrain.TheBeckoningSilenceisapowerfultestamenttotheenduranceofthehumanspiritinextremeconditions.

In1990sScotland,agroupofCatholicschoolgirlsgetanopportunitytogointoEdinburghforachoircompetition,butthey’remoreinterestedindrinking,partyingandhookingupthanwinningthecompetition.

In2261,theVorlonsjointheShadowWar,buttheirtacticsbecomeaconcernforthealliancewhentheVorlonsbegindestroyingentireplanetswhichtheydeemtohavebeen"influenced"bytheShadows.Disturbedbythisturnofevents,Babylon5recruitsseveralotherpowerfulandancientraces(theFirstOnes)totheircause,againstboththeShadowsandtheVorlons.CaptainJohnSheridanreturnstothestationafterescapingfromZ’ha’dum,butataprice:barringillnessorinjury,hehasonly20yearslefttolive.HeisaccompaniedbyamysteriousaliennamedLorienwhoclaimstobetheoldestsentientbeinginthegalaxy.HoursbeforeSheridan’sreturn,Garibaldiisrescuedandreturnedtothestation,inratherdubiouscircumstances.HeismarkedlymoreparanoidandsuspiciousofotheralienracesandofSheridanthanhewasbefore.CentauriEmperorCartagiaforgesarelationshipwiththeShadows.LondoMollariengineerstheassassinationofCartagiaandrepudiateshisagreementwiththeShadows.LondokillsMr.MordenanddestroystheShadowvesselsbasedontheCentaurihomeworld,inanattempttosavehisplanetfromdestructionbytheVorlons.Aidedbytheotherancientraces,andseveralyoungerones,SheridanluresboththeVorlonsandtheShadowsintoanimmensebattle,duringwhichtheVorlonsandShadowsrevealthattheyhavebeenleftasguardiansoftheyoungerraces,butduetophilosophicaldifferences,endedupusingthemaspawnsintheirendlesswarsthroughouttheages.Theyoungerracesrejecttheircontinuedinterference,andtheVorlonsandShadows,alongwiththeremainingFirstOnes,agreetodepartthegalaxyforever.AftertheShadowsaredefeatedGaribaldileaveshispostassecuritychiefandworksonhisownasa"providerofinformation".HebeginsworkingforoneWilliamEdgars,aMarsTycoon,whoismarriedtoGaribaldi’sformerlove.WhileheworksevercloserwithEdgars,hebecomesincreasinglyaggressivetowardsSheridanandeventuallyleavesBabylon5.MinbarisgrippedbyabriefcivilwarbetweentheWarriorandReligiouscastes.DelennsecretlymeetswithNeroonoftheWarriorcasteandconvinceshimthatneithersidecanbeallowedtowin.Shetellshimthatshewillundergoaritualwhereinshewillbewillingtosacrificeherself,butwillstoptheritualbeforesheactuallydies.WhenNeroonseesthatsheactuallyintendstogothroughtheentireritual,herescuesherandsacrificeshimselfinstead,declaringthat,althoughhewasbornWarrior,inhisheartheisReligious.AspartoftheongoingconflictbetweenEarthandBabylon5,GaribaldieventuallybetraysSheridanandarrangeshiscaptureinordertogainEdgars’trustandlearnhisplans.GaribaldilaterlearnsthatEdgarscreatedavirusthatisdangeroustoonlytelepaths.Itisthenrevealed,thatGaribaldiwasactuallyabductedbythePsi-CorpsattheendofSeason3andre-programmedbyBestertoprovideinformationtohimattherighttime.BesterreleasesGaribaldiofhisprogramming,andallowshimtoremembereverythinghehasdonesincebeingkidnapped.Edgarsiskilledandhiswifedisappears,butisreunitedwithGaribaldiaftertheendofthewar.GaribaldihelpsfreeSheridanandreturnhimtothecampaigntofreeEarth.AnallianceledbyBabylon5freesEarthfromtotalitarianrulebyPresidentClarkinashortbutbloodywar.ThisculminatesinClark’ssuicideandtherestorationofdemocraticgovernment.Marsisgrantedfullindependence,andSheridanagreestoresignhiscommission.TheLeagueofNon-AlignedWorldsisdissolvedandreformedintotheInterstellarAlliance,withSheridanelectedasitsfirstPresidentandcontinuinghiscommandoftheRangers,whoaretoactasagalacticequivalentofUnitedNationspeacekeepers.Intheseasonfinale,theeventsof100,500,1000,andonemillionyearsintothefutureareshown,depictingBabylon5’slastinginfluencethroughouthistory.Amongsttheeventsshownarethepoliticalaftermathofthe2261civilwar,asubsequentnuclearwaronEarthinvolvinganewtotalitariangovernmentintheyearAD2762,theresultingfallofEarthintoapre-industrialsociety,thelossandrestorationofhumanity’sknowledgeofspacetravel,andthefinalevolutionofmankindintoenergybeingssimilartotheVorlons,afterwhichEarth’ssungoesnova.

811AD,afamily,isolatedintheirhome,deepinthewoodsafewdaystravelfromBirka.Theyarepoor.Thehuntingandfishinghasbeenbadforsometime,andthefather,Joar,takesthedesperatemeasureofgoingonaVikingraid.Joardoesnotreturnforalongtime,andthefamilystartstofearheneverwill.Runa,theoldestdaughter,takesoverherfatherschoresinhisabsence.Shemisseshimdearlyandnourishesatenderhopethathe,onceagain,willreturntothem.Butinherheart,somehowsheknows,thatthesufferingofthefamilyhasjustbegun.Thereissomethingintheair,somethinginthewater,thewindandinthesoil.Runaisbecomingawareofsomethingvile,somethingdangerousoutintheforest.Onedaywhensheisouthunting,shefindsableedingman,awarrior,almostunconscious.Shebringshiminsideandthefamilytendtohiswounds.Asheheals,sherealizesheissenttoprotectthefamilyfromanapproachingevil.Andhebringsnewsofherfather.