Rent Charly (1968)

Psychedelic Sci-Fi (Spoiler). - Charly review by Steve

This was adapted from a 1961 tv play, also starring Cliff Robertson. His role in the film version won an Oscar, as a lonely, blue collar worker with learning disabilities who is chosen for an experimental operation which will make him more intelligent. More than that, he becomes a genius. But the process is only temporary...

For an hour, it is a feelgood fantasy, shot in a documentary style. But when the dream begins to unravel, the picture is fragmented, telling much of the story through hallucinogenic split screen montages, scored by Ravi Shankar. It all gets very summer-of-love. This method tells the story quickly, but avoids following up any thematic proposals.

It relates a uniquely human experience. We are educated until we understand the fact of our mortality, and nothing we can learn afterwards can change this truth. But the film overlooks the complications. What if everyone had the operation? Surely it is more likely it  would be sold to the rich rather than given to those in need? What are the ethics of using this man as an experiment?

Robertson plays an outsider, someone who sees the world having first experienced its cruelty. There's a very strong scene where he word associates with scientists at a press conference and we glimpse his subconscious trauma. It feels credible that one day, something like this could be attempted. And that's what good sci-fi does; it draws on the almost believable