Z.P.G.

Z.P.G.

Year: 1972

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Campus

ThrillerScience Fiction

In a near‑future world choked by smog and dwindling oxygen, governments enforce a one‑generation ban on childbirth, sentencing any birth to death. When a dissatisfied couple replaces their synthetic baby with a real child, they risk the ultimate penalty.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Z.P.G. (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Z.P.G. (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Future

The story unfolds in a distant future marked by environmental collapse and overpopulation. People wear breathing masks outdoors as the air remains toxic, and the state deploys brainwashing and animatronic substitutes to curb the desire for children. The timeline suggests an escalation of oppressive controls and drastic measures to manage society. A fragile hope centers on evading the system and seeking a real family away from the domed city.

Location

Earth, Babyland, Remote island, Underground tunnels

Set on a polluted Earth where heavy smog cloaks vast cities. The regime monitors births and enforces harsh punishments, including the death penalty for illegal pregnancies. Sanctuaries arise in a state-run Babyland program, where artificial offspring replace real children. A remote island beyond the polluted zones is rumored to offer a fresh start, though its dangers and isolation remain.

🌫️ Polluted atmosphere 🏛️ Totalitarian regime 🗺️ Hidden enclaves

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:11

Main Characters – Z.P.G. (1972)

Meet the key characters of Z.P.G. (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Russ (Oliver Reed)

A museum curator who recreates early 20th-century life. He is pragmatic, protective of Carol, and willing to take risks to shield his family from the state's death penalty. His resourcefulness helps the couple hide their real child and plan an escape. He becomes the steadied, no-nonsense center of the group in a world built on fear.

🛡️ Protective 🧭 Resourceful 🧩 Loyal

Carol McNeil (Geraldine Chaplin)

Desperate for a child in a society that forbids births, Carol defies the abortion machine and conceives. She navigates danger and secrecy, balancing love with risk as the pregnancy advances. Her determination triggers the couple’s rebellion against the regime and their fight to protect their baby.

💖 Determined 🧭 Protective 🧪 Rebellious

George Borden (Don Gordon)

A neighbor who initially offers help but quickly reveals a jealous, opportunistic streak as he and his wife try to claim the baby. His actions underscore the corrosive effects of scarcity and envy in a tightly controlled society. He becomes an antagonist whose motives threaten the McNeils' precarious secret.

😠 Jealous 🤝 Opportunistic 🛡️ Protective

Edna Borden (Diane Cilento)

George's partner in crime, Edna grows increasingly possessive of the baby and uses manipulation to assert control. Her jealousy escalates tensions within the close-knit community, pushing the neighborhood toward conflict. Her actions emphasize how desire and fear can corrupt even well-meaning intentions.

😡 Jealous 🗝️ Manipulative 💬 Persuasive

Daughter (Belinda Donkin)

The child at the center of the conflict, a real baby whose existence destabilizes the already fragile societal balance. Her presence transforms neighbors into rivals and becomes the catalyst that drives the McNeils' desperate flight. She represents both hope and vulnerability in a world that rejects real offspring.

👶 Innocent 🎯 Targeted 🍼 precious

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:11

Major Themes – Z.P.G. (1972)

Explore the central themes of Z.P.G. (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔒 Oppressive State

The film centers on a government that treats birth as a crime and uses draconian penalties to deter reproduction. Surveillance, public punishment, and controlling propaganda create a suffocating atmosphere for ordinary citizens. The dominance of the state shapes personal choices and fuels fear, secrecy, and rebellion. The tension between obedience and dissent drives the narrative forward.

👶 Motherhood

Carol's longing for a child becomes a radical act in a society that bans births. The quest for a real baby clashes with the regime's substitutes and the moral costs of defying law. The desire for biological connection tests loyalty, trust, and the boundaries of love. The film uses this theme to explore the price of motherhood under oppression.

🗺️ Escape

As the couple confronts jealousy and danger from neighbors, escape becomes a central impulse. The plan to flee through dark tunnels toward a remote refuge embodies humanity's urge for freedom. The journey ties personal survival to a broader hope for a safer, freer world beyond the contaminated cities. The final exodus questions whether a new life on an island can truly be free from the past.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:11

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Z.P.G. Summary

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Z.P.G. Summary

Z.P.G. Timeline

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Z.P.G. Timeline

More About Z.P.G.

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