The Man from Earth: Holocene

A millennia-old man living under the alias John Young, he serves as a beloved professor whose calm exterior hides a concealed, centuries-spanning identity. The discovery of his true past triggers a crisis of trust among students and colleagues. He reveals himself as Oldman and later admits to his Jesus-like claims, choosing solitude over sensational fame. In the end, he disappears, retreating to the wilderness as the world debates his truth.

John’s wife and fellow faculty member, she embodies steady support and professional poise. The couple’s relationship is strained by the unraveling of John’s past, leading to tension and a difficult choice about their future. She anchors the domestic life that remains a counterbalance to the extraordinary truths uncovered. Her reactions reflect the film’s interrogation of personal loyalty amid public revelation.

An enthusiastic student who uncovers hints of John’s long life and initiates the investigation. Her curiosity drives the action, prompting a dangerous quest to confirm the book’s claims. She pushes the group to confront the possibility that their teacher is an immortal figure, testing boundaries and authority. Her insistence on the truth accelerates the conflict at the heart of the story.

A fellow student drawn into the mystery, she reveals loneliness and longing that color her judgment. Her willingness to push boundaries leads to a tense confrontation with John, including a sexual advance that is rebuffed. She participates in the plan to confront John, illustrating the group’s moral confusion and the price of seeking certainty.

One of John’s student confidants who is open to the possibility that the Oldman identity could be real. He contributes to the group’s investigation and participates in the surveillance of John. His cautious curiosity embodies the tension between belief and skepticism that drives the plot.

Initially open to the idea that John could be divine, he becomes the catalyst for violence when John refuses to fully confirm the myth. He stabs John during the confrontation, becoming a symbol of how fanatical belief can provoke dangerous actions. His subsequent disappearance deepens the mystery surrounding John’s true nature.

A controversial author of the life-spanning book about John Oldman whom Isabel tries to contact. His publication damages John’s reputation and fuels the group’s certainty about his identity. He later colludes in the tense plan to confront John and faces FBI involvement as the case grows more perilous.

An old friend who appears during John’s crisis, offering a potential place to hide with his family. He and John discuss the possibility that the Holocene’s end necessitates a new way of living. His invitation signals a possible path toward safety and acceptance away from public scrutiny.