Watch Friendship's Death

The 1987 science fiction drama Friendship's Death tells a unique and thought-provoking story about the unlikely connection between a British journalist and a female extraterrestrial robot named Friendship. The film is directed by Peter Wollen and stars Tilda Swinton as Friendship and Bill Paterson as the journalist. The movie opens with Friendship arriving in Amman, Jordan, in 1970. She is part of a delegation of robots sent from her home planet to observe and analyze human behavior during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, things take an unexpected turn when Friendship's spaceship crashes in the desert, and she is left stranded with a damaged communication system.

After wandering in the scorching heat, Friendship is found by a group of Palestinian guerrillas led by Omar, played by Patrick Bauchau. The rebels initially mistake her for a weapon and plan to use her as part of their struggle against Israel. However, Friendship quickly proves her non-threatening nature, and Omar begins to see her as a sentient being.

The situation becomes more complicated when a British journalist, John, played by Bill Paterson, arrives in the area to cover the conflict. Friendship and John strike up a conversation, and despite their vastly different backgrounds, they develop a meaningful connection.

As Friendship shares her observations on human behavior, John becomes increasingly fascinated by her perspective. However, their conversations also reveal the limitations of human thinking and the flaws in the concept of progress. Friendship's unique viewpoint challenges John's assumptions and forces him to question the values of his society.

The movie is a slow-burning character study that explores complex themes such as the nature of humanity, the role of technology in society, and the power of communication. The performances are top-notch, with Tilda Swinton delivering a captivating portrayal of an otherworldly being trying to navigate a foreign environment.

The film also features a mesmerizing score by film composer Simon Fisher Turner and striking cinematography by Babette Mangolte. The desert landscapes and the cramped interiors of the guerrilla hideouts create a visceral sense of place that adds to the film's sense of tension and claustrophobia.

Overall, Friendship's Death is a thought-provoking and haunting film that offers an original take on the science fiction genre. It is a must-see for fans of Tilda Swinton and anyone interested in exploring philosophical questions through cinema.

Friendship's Death is a 1987 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.