SOLARBABIES (SOLARWARRIORS)
US, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jami Gertz, Jason Patric, Lukas Haas, Richard Jordan, James Le Gros, Adrian Pasdar, Sarah Douglas, Charles Durning.
Directed by Alan Johnson.
Solarbabies (Solarwarriors) is a futuristic film focusing on children. Many of them are in an orphanage ina future empire, out in the desert. The regime is particularly strict, especially for those who try to escape. A little boy (Lukas Haas from Witness) discovers a live sphere which enables the solar babies, a special group of youngsters, to break out of their restrictions. The sphere is stolen by an Indian orphan and the group go in pursuit. They have adventures in the desert, escapes from their pursuers, capture by hostil troops, a battle and finally the falling of new rain and the transformation of the world.
The material is familiar but it's done in an arresting way. The youngsters are led by Jason Patric and Jami Gertz (who were the leads also in The Lost Boys). Richard Jordan and Sarah Douglas are the officials. Charles Durning appears briefly as the understanding warden. The film was made on Spanish locations and the desert sequences are quite striking.
1. An enjoyable futuristic film? Future society? Orphans? Totalitarian regimes? A parched earth?
2. The use of Spanish locations? The reconstruction of the orphanage and its prison? The mountalns and the deserts? The desert communities? oases? The importance of special effects? Musical score?
3. The title, its tone, the head of the orphanage despising it? The alternate, solar warriors?
4. The situation of the orphanage: the future, the children taken from, their parents, being brought up in a strict regime, work, athletic training, education? The rulers and their strict regimes, uniforms, regulations, etc.? The warden and his understanding? The desire to break out? The punishment
for those who tried to escape?
5. The group of solar babies: Jason as leader, his relationship with Terra, the qualities of his leadership? The clash with the orphan who was the protege of the guard? Clashes, fights? Athletic contests? The attempted escape, the punishment and work? The care of the warden? Their concern about Daniel, the sphere, beginning to speak, the sphere - and the hockey like sport, breaking into pieces, the vision? The decision to go, Jason's leadership, clashes and fights, battles, the final confrontation? The other members of the group: Tug and his energy, Metron and his intelligence, Rabbit and his enthusiasm? Their participation in the action?
6. Terra, the girl in the group, the guard's protege and his attentions to her, the clash with Jason? The escape, her discovering her father, the decision to help them in the final battle?
7. Daniel, his deafness, his place in the orphanage, the coming of the sphere, his delight, his being able to hear? His pursuit of the bird boy? The group finding him, participation in the battles?
8. The bird boy, the outsider, clashes, his taking the sphere, being found by the group, at home, prisoned, set free, joining in the final confrontation?
9. The prison guard, his regulations, strictness? His attack on the warden and the withering of his flowers? His angers, the pursuit of the group, the final confrontation, the sphere, the scientist as his ally? His death? The woman scientist, her plans and plots, her death?
10. The warden and his kindliness, having to impose regulations?
11. The young guards, their despising of the solarbabies? The police and their pursuit?
12. The desert communities - the Indians, their magic, taking the bird boy back to themselves? The attack of the troops, the torture of the leader? The contrast with Terra's father and his group, the water?
13. Themes of the desert, water, the vision of the rain, the final bursting of the dam and the freedom of water?
14. Themes of future societi*es? Fables commenting on present society?
