The Man from Earth (2007)

7.8Not Rated87 minDirector: Richard Schenkman

2007 film by Richard Schenkman

The Man from Earth is a 2007 American science fiction drama film directed by Richard Schenkman. It was written by Jerome Bixby, who conceived the screenplay in the early 1960s and completed it on his deathbed in April 1998. It stars David Lee Smith as John Oldman, a departing university professor, who puts forth the notion that he is more than 14,000 years old. The entire film is set in and around Oldman's house during his farewell party and consists almost entirely of dialogue. The plot advances through intellectual arguments between Oldman and his fellow faculty members.

The screenplay mirrors similar concepts of longevity introduced by Bixby in "Requiem for Methuselah", a Star Trek episode he wrote, which originally aired in 1969. The Man from Earth gained recognition in part for being widely distributed through Internet peer-to-peer networks, which raised its profile. Schenkman later adapted the film into a stage play.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Man from Earth about?
The Man from Earth (2007) — An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he has a longer and stranger past than they can imagine.
Is The Man from Earth based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Man from Earth scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is The Man from Earth (2007) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex