Summaries

Major Syrtis goes insane as he tries to improve morale in an abandoned colony on Mars through a Christmas pageant, where the first colonist baby will be born.

Details

Keywords
  • downward spiral
  • astronomical object in title
  • holiday in title
  • christmas in title
  • mars
Genres
  • Sci-Fi
  • Music
Release date May 23, 2008
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) Not Rated
Countries of origin United States
Official sites Flaminglips.com
Language English
Filming locations Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Production companies Warner Bros. Records Head Trips Lovely Sorts of Death

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 23m
Color Color Black and White
Sound mix Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio 1.78 : 1

Synopsis

Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips present Christmas on Mars: A Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips, a glorious science fiction film that marks the directorial debut of the Lips' visionary frontman Wayne Coyne. Seven years in the making, Christmas on Mars features original music by the Flaming Lips ("The greatest US band today" - The Guardian), with acting performances by all band members, and many others from their Oklahoma City-based team. Comedian Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and actor Adam Goldberg (Dazed and Confused, Two Days in Paris) also appear.

It's Christmastime, and the colonization of Mars is underway. However, when an oxygen generator and a gravity control pod malfunction, Major Syrtis (the Lips' Steven Drozd) and his team (including the Lips' Michael Ivins) fear the worst. Syrtis also hallucinates about the birth of a baby, and many other strange things. Meanwhile, a compassionate alien superbeing (Coyne) arrives, inspiring and helping the isolated astronauts.

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