The wife and I watched Iceman - i hadnt seen it since i was a kid.
its a mid 80s flick about a team of arctic scientists conducting research for a petroleum company who discover the remains of a 40,000 year old neanderthal encased in ice.
The science team intends to perform an autopsy to determine the reasoning behind his perfect preservation. During the process they discover that his blood and tissues are somehow filled with a naturally occurring chemical that prevents cell damage during freezing. With obvious implications to cryogenic freezing for the space program and medical industry they go forward with the plan when suddenly their equipment picks up trace brain activity, stopping their procedure they elect to attempt to resuscitate the neanderthal - and their resuscitation attempt is a success.
Now that the science team is wrestling with moral and ethical issues, the prehistoric man is locked into the base camp's bio-dome like wildlife refuge until these issues can be worked out. In the mean time, Dr. Sheppard - one of the science team members and expert on ancient intuit civilizations enters the refuge and attempts to befriend and communicate with the iceman.
Despite the iceman's obvious lack of understanding about his situation, and the difficulty encountered in the massive language barrier he begins to show signs of understanding that he is not where he is supposed to be and at one point - tiring of the constant tranquilizing, abduction into the medical ward, examinations and the constant wondering about his own people and family he begs Sheppard to kill him and becomes frustrated, saddened and angry when Sheppard refuses.
As the iceman becomes increasingly desperate to understand his situation - a situation he could never fathom - Dr. Sheppard tries to think of a way to help the iceman find a way out of the confusing and tormenting hell he has awakened into.
its a shame how little attention many good 80s movies get.
Iceman is a very sad, fascinating and thought provoking movie, hitting theaters about 7 years before the remains of "otzi the iceman" were discovered in the otztal alps in northern Italy.
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