This Was Tomorrow
Admission starts at $5
July 18, 2024, 8:30pm
Brooklyn, NY 11205
USA
Join us at the e-flux Screening Room rooftop for Existential Frontiers, the second of the four-part series This Was Tomorrow, presenting cinematic visions of the future that illuminate and comment on our present-day realities.
The films and videos in this series challenge common perceptions of time, identity, technology, and community, in a curated selection that invites thoughtful reflection while also promising entertainment. Each evening will present a thematic pairing of an artist film(s) with a cinema feature, showcasing the diverse and innovative possibilities of science-fiction storytelling.
Screenings take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 16–25, 2024, and begin after sunset.
II. Existential Frontiers
Thursday, July 18, 8:30pm
The works in this screening invite viewers to explore the depths of human isolation and the necessity for self-rediscovery in the end times, and under different conditions of survival. The films delve into the psychological and existential challenges faced by individuals in isolated, futuristic settings, where they confront their inner fears and demons, and are forced to reflect on the failures of humanity.
Ben Rivers, Urth (2016, 20 minutes)
Urth is a meditative science-fiction film set in a futuristic botanical lab as part of the failed Biosphere experiment. The film follows a solitary scientist as she tends to the lab’s plant life and reflects on the implications of humanity’s impact on the environment. Rivers uses a mix of observational footage and speculative narration to explore themes of ecological collapse, solitude, and the Anthropocene. Urth could be seen as a commentary on humanity’s relationship with nature and the potential futures we are creating.
Claire Denis, High Life (2018, 113 minutes)
High Life follows a group of death-row inmates sent on a mission to extract energy from a black hole. The film focuses on Monte and his daughter, the last survivors of the mission, as they navigate the isolation and existential challenges of space. Denis explores themes of humanity, reproduction, and the ethics of scientific experimentation. The film’s haunting visuals and philosophical depth make it a compelling exploration of human existence in extreme conditions.
For more information, contact program@e-flux.com.