Movies often push boundaries, but few face the fate of On the Silver Globe, a 1970s sci-fi film by Polish director Andrzej Zulawski, known for Possession (1981). Halted by the Polish government before completion, this ambitious project never reached theaters, yet its surviving pieces have earned a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, captivating fans with its bold vision.
Filmed around the same era as Star Wars, On the Silver Globe was inspired by the Lunar Trilogy novels. With stars like Andrzej Seweryn, Jerzy Trela, and Grazyna Dylag, it followed astronauts who create a society on the moon, where children grow up unusually fast. The last astronaut sends footage to Earth, where a grieving scientist, Marek, finds it and visits the moon, greeted as a savior. It promised to be a sci-fi masterpiece, but censorship stopped it short.
Warning: Contains scenes of nudity. After two years of production, the Polish government, upset by themes they saw as critical of communism, shut down the film and destroyed some of its negatives (Eureka Entertainment). Seweryn told Vice that the state-controlled film industry offered no way to fight back, leaving the project unfinished. The interruption meant parts of the story were lost forever, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.
Zulawski refused to let his work vanish. He pieced together what remained, using footage of 1988 Polish life to fill gaps, and narrated the missing scenes live at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. The result is a haunting, incomplete film that still wows viewers with its creativity, earning a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. One fan called it a powerful work that shines despite its missing pieces.
Even in its unfinished form, On the Silver Globe stands as a testament to Zulawski’s vision and resilience. Its unique story and striking visuals make it a must-see for sci-fi lovers, proving that even a censored film can leave a lasting mark. This lost epic reminds us that great art can endure, no matter the obstacles it faces.
