Many layers to this film...

Freeman Lowell (played by a very intense Bruce Dern) is a botanist on the spaceship "Valley Forge" where he, and the rest of the crew, are preserving the last botanical specimens left from Earth. When they receive a message that the project has come to an end and that the ships have to return home WITHOUT the bio-domes he rebels, kills the rest of the crew and hijacks the ship.
It's just not about makind and his relationship with nature, but also his relationship to himself and his technology. Let's face it, Freeman wasn't all there either to start with, seeming to love nature and the robots more than his own kind.
The settings, built within a real aircraft carrier called "Valley Forge", felt real because they were real (in a way). The ship's hallways, huge hanger, and even command bridge were all used giving us the feel of being enclosed by the metal hull of a real spaceship. It really adds to the sense of being out in the middle of nowhere, of Freeman being alone, with nothing between him and death but the ship's many layers of metal.
The DVD comes with a commentary of the director AND Bruce Dern, behind the scenes features, production notes, info on the cast and the filmmakers and, of course, the theatrical trailer. The extras really add to the disc, showing just what could be done with only a few million bucks.
The only problem I had with the whole film was the need to fill the soundtrack with Joan Baez's voice - yuck. Silence or a Japanese flute would have been better. I think of space as being silent or soft sounding, not having a off-key woman singing in the background. Star Trek was bad enough.
A must for any collection of classic films, sci-fi or otherwise.

One of my personal top SF movie

I love Hard Science Fiction, I hate soft SF (like StarWars and other fantastic rubbish), but this movie was a different thing. I saw this movie when I was teenager, and I just can say that it's on my personal TOP5 movies of my life, those movies that enter deep and changes something inside. Dont watch it if you look for HSF, dont miss it if you have a bit of feelings.

AN IMPORTANT LITTLE BIG MOVIE

I first saw this film with my Dad in its initial release, and, I admit, I was too young to fully understand what it was trying to say. Now that I have reached some small degree of age and experience, I can view SILENT RUNNING with a fresh eye. It still sends out its very strong message about treasuring what is good and beautiful in this world, as it too easily slips away. The little drones do indeed steal the show, and are still my Dad's favorite characters. But I now can appreciate the performance of Bruce Dern, who up until that time had spent his career playing heavies and psychopaths. Granted, there is more than a bit of the fanatic about the Freeman character; otherwise, he would not have been so motivated to save at any cost what remained of the Earth's forests. What I now appreciate more is the gentle touch of the character: I believe it is no accident that when we first encounter him, he is wearing a white, Christ-like robe. He establishes his rapport with all the beasts in his care in a very fatherly way. The way the film opens is very important to the viewer's understanding of what this movie wants to say, and it's underscored by one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever designed for film. It's notable that this is the only score ever written by Peter Schickele, nee P.D.Q. Bach. His opening theme, vocalised later in the first reel by Joan Baez, is heartbreaking.

I still believe that SILENT RUNNING is an important little movie, hiding inside a big Hollywood science fiction epic. Don't view this expecting space battles and alien invaders: this film is about what may happen if we ignore all that is most important around us in favor of everyday trivia.

Bruce, it's one of your very best. Be proud.