For centuries, humans have wondered what the future will bring. The scientific revolution and the ongoing development of new technologies only expanded the range of speculation.

From September 2025 to May 2026, the Brave New Worlds film club will meet once each month to discuss a film from our program.

The films selected for this theme all reflect an interest in future states of our world. They are not “science fiction,” though they lean in that direction. Starting within that “new” world, such films prompt viewers to ask, “how did we get here?” and “what happens next?” While the viewpoint on future states is often dystopian, the films are not inherently pessimistic—indeed, they are vibrant and thought-provoking. The focus is on the human reaction to the imagined environment – sometimes to avoid a dismal future that hasn’t yet arrived.

Film club members will watch each film independently before the Zoom discussion. In advance of each meeting, the facilitator will distribute a one-page set of observations and questions to prompt independent thinking about the film, as well as a selection of short reviews. Following each discussion, film club members will have the voluntary opportunity to write a short essay about some aspect of the film; the facilitator will organize all the essays and distribute them to all members.

The group meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month (except for the October and April meetings; see meeting schedule) virtually via Zoom, from 5:30-7pm. Group members will receive Zoom meeting invitations on the day of each meeting.

Film club members watch the selected film independently in advance of each month’s meeting. The meeting is devoted to discussing the film. Members have options for viewing the films: online streaming or borrowing or purchasing DVDs. Please see the section on “Access to Films.”

Please note that there is a viewing assignment for the first meeting. The film selections may be subject to change in the course of the year.

Wed, September 3
Double feature: Chris Marker, La Jetée (1963), 29 minutes. Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video.
Jean-Luc Godard, Alphaville (1965), 99 minutes. Hoopla, Kanopy, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube.

*Tues, September 30* (note date change)
Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris (1972), 165 minutes. Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Max.

Wed, November 5
Ridley Scott, Blade Runner (1982), 117 minutes. Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube.

Wed, December 3
Steven Spielberg, Minority Report (2002), 145 minutes. Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube.

Wed, January 7
Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men (2006), 109 minutes. Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube.

Wed, February 4
James McTeigue, V for Vendetta (2006), 172 minutes. Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube.

Wed, March 4
Mark Romanek, Never Let Me Go (2010), 103 minutes. Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube.

*Tues, March 31* (note date change)
Neill Blomkamp, Elysium (2013), 109 minutes. Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube, Fubo.

Wed, May 6
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinart, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), 139 minutes. Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Max.

Wed, June 3
Optional bonus meeting: Celebration at the Athenæum!

Every film in this schedule should be accessible to any member with access to on-demand video services or to a DVD player.

Most members will have multiple options, whether they prefer streaming or DVD. If you have a preferred streaming service, be sure to check whether is particular film is offered. Some streaming services make a film available for a set period of time and then withdraw it when they offer other films in rotation. This means that for certain platforms, a particular film may not be available for the month when the film club will discuss it. As of this writing, the information provided in the viewing schedule is correct.

An excellent resource to identify streaming platforms for specific films is the free app JustWatch.

If you prefer streaming, each film offered this year is available on multiple platforms. Some platforms are free; others are paying, either by subscription plans, or pay-per-view or digital purchase. A subscription to the Criterion Channel is highly recommended. This subscription service, associated with the Criterion Collection, provides access to a very large number of foreign and domestic films of excellence, as well as to rotating film offerings. Two of the 10 films (La Jetée and Solaris) in the program this year are accessible on the Criterion Channel. It is an excellent, economical service. You may watch any film as often as you like; it is not “pay per view.” There are many extra features (interviews, versions with commentary, essays) that are not available elsewhere. Highly recommended!

Hoopla is an on-demand video streaming platform available free with most Athenæum memberships. Athenæum staff can advise you on accessing Hoopla. One of the 10 films (Alphaville) in this year’s program is accessible on Hoopla.

Kanopy is another streaming service with access to films provided free with a local public library card or with borrowing privileges from a college or university. Kanopy is not accessible with Athenæum membership. Access to specific films varies by the individual library or educational institution. Kanopy may offer access to one of the 10 films in this year’s program (Alphaville). If you do not have a local public library card, it is strongly recommended that you obtain one.

Commercial platforms: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, YouTube and others are good sources for most of the films on this year’s program. Most of them offer the opportunity to rent or to buy (digitally) the film. Prices are nominal. Some offer streaming in HD (high definition), so be sure to check the JustView app to see whether HD is offered.

Streaming caveat: you may find (on YouTube and elsewhere) other versions of these films. Be wary of “bootleg” copies that may have been reproduced without authorization. Unauthorized copies may have viruses or other malware. A “free” viewing may end up being very expensive if your computer, phone, or TV gets hacked as a result.

If you prefer to watch using DVDs, there are several options. Films on DVD may be available for borrowing from the Athenaeum or from the RISD Library or both. Your local public library may also have films in their DVD collections. These are good options, but with demand from many film club members at the same time, you may not be able to borrow the DVD when you prefer. Another option is to purchase DVDs, from the usual sources, as well as from the Criterion Collection.

There are many films that relate to our theme. Some of them are more overtly “science fiction” in nature, or may touch on related genres and themes, such as dystopian futures: political, environmental, and others. The following selective list of films deserves your interest if you want to pursue the theme further. Please check the JustWatch app for access.

Elio Petri, The Tenth Victim [La decima vittima], 1965.
François Truffaut, Fahrenheit 451 (1966).
Woody Allen, Sleeper (1973).
Lana and Lily Wachowski, The Matrix (1999); The Matrix Reloaded (2003); The Matrix Revolutions (2003).
Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).
Neill Blomkamp, District 9 (2009).
Gary Ross, The Hunger Games (2012).
Lana and Lily Wachowski, Cloud Atlas (2012).
Marc Forster, World War Z (2013).

Athenæum member Steve Coon leads the film club as facilitator. Steve earned a Ph.D. from Brown University in Comparative Literature in 1976. Since 2012, he has lead reading and film discussion groups at the Athenaeum. He has led the film club since 2021, with topics of “Paris in French Film,” “London in British Film,” “French Film Beyond Paris,” and “Love in French Film.” Steve emphasizes that the film club is not a “class,” but rather an opportunity for cinephiles of all backgrounds to experience and discuss great achievements in the world of cinema.