I have just finished watching this series on Netflix and I've been absolutely wowed by it.
The Eternaut is an Argentinian series filmed in Buenos Aires. The story is an adaptation of Hector German Oesterheld's 1957 graphic novel, 'El Eternauta' (The Eternal). It is an iconic story of oppression and resistance, set in the frame of a dystopian, science-fiction world.
I first heard of it a couple of years ago, when connecting on Stage32 with a composer (Antonio Zimmerman) who lives in Buenos Aires. We started talking about animated series and graphic novels.
Here's the trailer:
The visual effects are stunning. The story is set during summertime, but as four friends play a card game, 'Truco', snow begins to fall. The snow however, is toxic and anyone whose skin is touched by the snowflakes, dies.
Some critics have complained that it's a slow-burner, but I give no value to that criticism; it simply increases the tension of the story. What's a dystopian thriller without scenes of streets empty of life, with the bodies of the fallen hanging out of cars and the windows of their apartments?
The subscribers to Netflix loved this series so much, that a day after its release, Netflix commissioned the second and final series of 8 episodes.
It has great acting and production values, which shows the qualities of the filmmaking community in Argentina. I watched the final episode last night and the last scene was breath-taking.
I recommend this series to you. Please let me know what you think? Are you a fan of dystopian stories? Have you watched The Eternaut? What's your favourite dystopian films of the 50s and 60s?
Here's a behind the scenes look at the making of the series.
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I'm looking forward to seeing The Eternaut, Geoff Hall. I'm a fan of dystopian stories. I don't think I've seen any dystopian films of the 50s and 60s. I'd like to though. And I'll like to write a dystopian story.
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Maurice Vaughan cool, Maurice. It’s a great series. I think I need to purchase the graphic novel too!
Here's a dystopian film from 1961, The Day the Earth Caught Fire’:
https://youtu.be/IUFtgep9sj4
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Thanks, Geoff Hall. I'll check out The Day the Earth Caught Fire. I didn't know The Eternaut was based off a graphic novel before your post. I see that a lot with movies. They're based off graphic novels. I've thought about writing a graphic novel. I have some scripts and script ideas that could easily be turned into graphic novels.