On the Silver Globe

On the Silver Globe

Year: 1988

Runtime: 165 mins

Language: Polish

DramaScience FictionMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypseHumanity and the world around usSurreal and thought-provoking visions of life and death

A small group of space explorers, led by a woman, departs Earth to found a new civilization. Unaware that they carry the seeds of their own downfall, they perish one by one. Their surviving children revert to a primitive, tribal culture, inventing fresh myths and worshipping a new deity, forging a fresh belief system.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – On the Silver Globe (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of On the Silver Globe (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Far future

Set in a distant future following a degraded Earth, the story unfolds across generations. An astronaut's crash diary survives beneath the planet's surface, linking long-ago events with a present where technology and myth intertwine. The timeline spans decades as Jerzy ages slowly while his descendants grow into a new society. The narrative circles back to Earth via Marek's arrival and the priests' prophecy.

Location

Derelict palace, Seashore settlement on an unnamed Earth-like planet, Shern city

The opening frames the derelict palace where researchers and an indigenous tribe occupy the ruins. Much of the story shifts to a distant Earth-like planet, where a seashore settlement becomes home to a new, evolving human tribe. Later, the Shern city and the priests' domain contrast with the survivors' frontier world, highlighting the planet's varied environments.

🏚️ Ruins 🪐 Alien World 🗺️ World-building

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:30

Main Characters – On the Silver Globe (1988)

Meet the key characters of On the Silver Globe (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jerzy (Jerzy Trela)

An aging survivor revered by the off-world tribe, the Old Man is seen as a demigod by the growing community. He preserves memory through his video diary, but his mortal body fails to keep pace with the line of descendants. His slow aging and distant wisdom drive the tribe’s mythology and the future’s questions about identity.

🧔 Elder 🗺️ Guardian 🌀 Enigma

Marta (Iwona Bielska)

A mother figure on the seashore, she witnesses the tribe’s first births and the toll of childbirth. Her death in childbirth marks a turning point that deepens the rift between generations. She embodies the human costs of survival and the fragility of life on a distant world.

👩‍👧‍👦 Mother 🕊️ Sacrifice

Piotr (Jerzy Grałek)

One of the two male astronauts who crash on the planet; Piotr dies early from injuries, triggering the community’s descent into a new social order. His presence and absence shape how the survivors conceive of danger, hope, and the future.

⚔️ Warrior 🕊️ Sacrifice

Marek (Andrzej Seweryn)

A planetary scientist who travels to the planet and is mistaken for the Old Man's return. He becomes a military leader, 'the messiah' in the priests' prophecy, and a catalyst for the ensuing conflict with the Shern. His arc explores the manipulation of belief for power and his ultimate fate.

🧭 Leader ⚔️ Commander

Jacek (Waldemar Kownacki)

An officer whose affair with Marek's actress girlfriend fuels political intrigue and a plan to remove Marek from Earthly affairs. He embodies betrayal and the corrosive effect of jealousy on a mission with planetary stakes.

💔 Lover 🕵️‍♂️ Betrayal

Avius

The telepathic leader of the native Shern, Avius is the symbol of the planet’s other inhabitants. His conflict with Marek and the humans drives the central clash between two civilizations and tests whether violence or diplomacy will prevail.

⚡ Leader 🐦 Telepathic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:30

Major Themes – On the Silver Globe (1988)

Explore the central themes of On the Silver Globe (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💾 Memory & History

A handheld video diary from a long-ago astronaut becomes the hinge between worlds. Past events are reconstructed and manipulated to shape present power, blurring lines between truth and myth. Jerzy's role as a quasi-divine figure grows from the legacy of recorded memory. The archive literally travels across space to Earth, informing the planet's protagonists.

🧬 Evolution & Isolation

The off-world isolation accelerates human development, producing a faster-growing child and a largely feral tribe. Cultural practices emerge in the absence of Earthly norms, with Jerzy as a relic of the old world. The new humanity adapts its customs, beliefs, and social structure to survive on a remote frontier. Distance reshapes what it means to be human.

📜 Religion vs Prophecy

Priests seize Marek as the prophesied messiah, using belief to consolidate power. The mission becomes both a religious crusade and a political campaign, with Marek leading battles against the native Shern. Earthly and extraterrestrial loyalties clash as prophecy and reality diverge. The protagonist's fate hinges on whether faith or strategy will prevail.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:30

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Unlock the Full Story of On the Silver Globe

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On the Silver Globe Summary

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On the Silver Globe Summary

On the Silver Globe Timeline

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On the Silver Globe Timeline

More About On the Silver Globe

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More About On the Silver Globe

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