Slaughterhouse-five

Author: George Roy Hill

Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most important of all 20th century authors. His satires are almost all science fiction, and while many have tried to adapt his work, only George Roy Hill has managed to make a film that feels like the visions that Vonnegut threw at his adoring audience. The story boils down to a simple statement (the one that opens the novel) – Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time. The film examines how it happened, and what it means to Pilgrim, and his time in the company of aliens, and of the firebombing of Dresden, and his own life in Illium, New York. The entire film pops in and out of timestreams, making us consider how pieces that do not fit chronologically come together. This application of non-linear narrative makes the film a thoughtful piece, but it never confuses the viewer. Billy Pilgrim is our lynchpin, tying us to the story thread and allowing us to make it through, come to an understanding as to what we've been through. Why it's on the listOne of the most authentic adaptations of a science fiction classic. Vonnegut even said so!