On the Silver Globe (1988) 2016

In a fascinating prologue set in a distant future, two researchers, weary from their relentless efforts, find themselves within the dilapidated remnants of an ancient palace, living alongside a group of indigenous people who have claimed this relic as their home. The scene takes a turn when a lone horseback rider arrives, carrying a mysterious artifact that sets the stage for a remarkable tale. As the scientists examine the object, they uncover an antiquated “Small Transmission Module,” revealing a heartfelt video diary of an astronaut whose spacecraft suffered a devastating fate over five decades ago.

As the camera shifts, we are swept into a flashback that spans years, unveiling a stirring story centered on the trials and victories of a rebel group that fled a dystopian Earth in pursuit of safety. Their desperate escape leads them to crash-land on an uncharted planet, one that bears eerie similarities to their own. In the wake of this calamity, one member is lost, leaving only three survivors: Marta, Piotr, and Jerzy.

Initially, their attempts to reach out to Earth are met with failure, delivering a heavy blow that sends them spiraling into an uncertain existence. Undaunted, they decide to start anew by the seashore, hoping to build a new society. Here, they welcome the birth of a new generation, one that would notably challenge the natural course of human evolution.

The birth of their first son signals a crucial turning point. Marta soon discovers that her child’s growth is accelerating at an alarming rate, a phenomenon that intensifies as time passes. Misfortune strikes when Piotr becomes the victim of an unseen threat, and Marta’s life is abruptly cut short during childbirth. Decades later, Jerzy stands as a testament to his own mortality, aging differently from the new humanity surrounding him.

As time unfolds, the progeny of Marta and her companions evolve into a feral tribe, their connection to Jerzy dwindling into myth. They come to perceive him as a demigod, an echo of a bygone era. Before Jerzy meets his end, he sets into motion a legacy that will resonate through generations—a recorded video diary chronicling the lives of those before him, eternally preserved within the “Small Transmission Module.”

Years later, Marek, a well-regarded planetary scientist, embarks on an expedition to this legendary planet, unwittingly poised to alter the fates of its inhabitants. Upon his descent, he is greeted with jubilation by the ruling priests, who perceive him as the fabled Old Man destined to liberate humanity from the telepathic control of the mysterious Sherns—a bird-like humanoid species native to the planet. Surprised by this newfound reverence, Marek embraces his unexpected role, commanding a courageous military offensive against the Sherns in hopes of freeing the human populace.

As the warfare escalates, the true motivations behind Marek’s journey are unveiled, tracing back to a personal scandal involving his actress girlfriend and a fellow officer, Jacek, whose clandestine affair with her triggered Marek’s departure. Their machinations aimed to obfuscate their betrayal lead to his transfer to the distant world.

At first, the humans enjoy a string of victories against the Sherns, even capturing their leader, Avius. However, this success quickly turns tragic during a fateful landing in the heart of the Shern city, resulting in chaos. As the battle sways, the priests’ initial zeal for Marek’s messianic status begins to fade, and they begin to categorize him as an outcast from Earth rather than the prophet they once believed him to be.

Ultimately, Marek’s valiant deeds are met with devastating treachery, culminating in a brutal execution by stoning and crucifixion at the hands of his own people—a poignant and heart-wrenching pivot in his arduous journey.