Z.P.G. (ZERO POPULATION GROWTH)

US, 1971, 96 minutes, Colour.
Oliver Reed, Geraldine Chaplin, Diane Cilento, Don Gordon. Directed by Michael Campus.

Z.P.G. received fairly negative reviews when it was released. The name and topic were fairly controversial in 1970-72 and people's reactions were very emotional rather than well thought out.

Z.P.G. is not a well written film (the screenplay is attributed to Max Ehrlich) especially in its too cosy sail away to freedom ending. However, some of the sequences and ideas have the makings of effective science-fiction. The forbidding of women to conceive children for thirty years and the substitution of dolls in compensation brings home with emotional force the realities of motherhood.

1. Was this good science-fiction? Why?

2. How serious was the message content of the film? Was it well communicated or did it tend to get out of proportion? Why?

3. What was your impression of the world of the twenty-first century?

4. What are your impressions of a world where babies are banned and the law has such heavy penalties and the cry of righteousness is "Baby"? How frightening are these sequences?

5. What effect did these laws have on the Mc Neils - on their marriage, love for each other, on Carole as a woman who would find fulfilment in physical motherhood?

6. Why did they decide to conceive a child? Were they aware of the risks?

7. What effect did the birth have on them - on their happiness, on Carole's sense of fulfilment?

8. What kind of people were George and Edna - their love and marriage, their 'doll-child' and relationship to it?

9. Why did George and Edna want to possess the baby? Did they become possessive and jealous? Why were they prepared to denounce the McNeils?

10. How totalitarian was the society - suspicions of authorities, interrogation methods, punishments?

11. How would audiences react to the film, depending on their points of view, on over-population, birth control and zero population growth? Which side was the film on? Did it give answers and insight into problems?

12. Technical aspects of communicating themes: queues for doll-children, over-population, smog, masks, museums, enactment of 20th century domestic scenes.