If you have watched the movies Arrival, Sicario or The Theory of Everything, you will probably agree that Jóhann Jóhannsson was on his way to become one of the all-time-greats. Unfortunately he died in 2018, not being able to complete an achievement that elevated his artistry to a whole new level.
Last and First Men, which Jóhannsson also directed, is one of the most original science fiction movies I have seen in recent time. Based on a novel by Olaf Stapleton, the movie tells the story of a future race of humans, which finds itself on the verge of extinction. The visually captivating black and white images of Eastern Europes monuments, combined with Tilda Swantons narrative voice and Jóhannssons etherial score is a minimalist yet monumental essay on our impending doom and reinvention. It prompts consideration of how and when our species will end, and also invites the viewer to wonder at our capacity to evolve and invent.
Last and First Men beautifully displays the genius of an artist who left our world way too early. And considering the current crisis we are facing, it is no science fiction any more.