Summaries

In the 1970s, aliens send a female android diplomat to Earth on a mission of peace. She lands in war-torn Palestine instead of MIT by mistake and meets a friendly UK journalist there. They begin a series of insightful conversations.

Details

Keywords
  • candy cinema
  • briton abroad
  • palestinian
  • englishman abroad
  • dialogue driven
Genres
  • Sci-Fi
  • Drama
Release date Aug 16, 1987
Countries of origin United Kingdom
Language English
Filming locations London, England, UK
Production companies British Film Institute (BFI) Channel Four Films Modelmark

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 18m
Color Color
Sound mix Mono
Aspect ratio 1.66 : 1

Synopsis

A robot messenger (Tilda Swinton) is sent to earth to appeal to humans to live in peace. Originally designed to go to MIT, by mistake she ends up in Amman, Jordan during the Black September riots of 1970. Sullivan, a British journalist, (Bill Paterson) comes to her aid when she is found wandering without papers following a bombing and grants her refuge in his hotel room. But there she tells him she is a robot, sent as a peace envoy from another planet. He is not sure whether to believe her story or not, but finds her unusual view of the world appealing. They examine the human condition in a series of incredibly insightful and entertaining conversations.

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