Memoirs of a Survivor

"From the bestselling novel by Doris Lessing"

Sep 1 1981 N/A 1h 55m
Sci-Fi

Based on the acclaimed novel by Doris Lessing, this dystopian science fiction tale concerns a woman struggling to make her way in a post-apocalyptic society. D (Julie Christie) is living in a city that's at the point of collapse following a catastrophic nuclear war; lawlessness and violence rule the day, and gangs of brutal youth roam the streets. With the help of her teenage companion Emily (Leonie Mellinger), D tries to make her way, and in order to cope, she often escapes into a fantasy world in which she lives in genteel Victorian surroundings in the 19th century.

Plot

'D' is a chronicler of a society in chaos, who looks down on the marauding gangs, and rubbish-strewn streets from the fortress prison of her flat. Buffeted by inner dreams and longings, D finds an alternative world by stepping through the wall of her flat, like Alice through the Looking Glass. Here it is Victorian England, the bosom of an unsettled family, harbingers, perhaps, of the decay to come. She flits between the two sides of her double life, always observing, never participating, and watches as her protégé, Emily, becomes involved with vagrants' leader Gerald and their efforts to control the violent scavengers fail.

Written by

Kerry Crabbe, David Gladwell, Doris Lessing

Directed by

David Gladwell

Cast

Julie Christie, Christopher Guard, Leonie Mellinger

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United Kingdom

Production Companies

Memorial Enterprises, National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)

Languages

English

Awards

5 wins & 3 nominations

Trailers
Memoirs of a Survivor (1981) Trailer
Scores
# of Votes
390
Average Rating
5.4 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA