Keswick Film Festival

Synopsis

Focus on 1976

Celebrating its 50th anniversary of release in 2026, The Man Who Fell to Earth stars David Bowie as an extra-terrestrial. He crash lands on earth and must pose as a human to get water to save his drought stricken planet. However, he has to contend with human vices and corruption along the way.

The depiction of the alienating effects of an over-commercialised society must be intended to warn us earthlings, just as much as the alien Bowie character - he of the anorexic frame, pale skin, orange hair and mismatching coloured eyes - who becomes the battleground of an innocent, alien culture pitted against our tainted, Westernised existence.

Berlin Film Festival 1976: Nominated Golden Bear
Academy of SF, Fantasy & Horror Films 1977: Winner, David Bowie, Best Actor

"A freaky, compelling concept album of a film." Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian