Christian described Stanisław Lem as "the intellectual father of science fiction, [a genre] that I love, and his Memoirs Found In A Bathtub is one of my favourite of his books. This is set to be a big epic film". The book was first published in Polish in 1961 and subsequently translated into English in 1973. The film will be made in Poland as an international co-production. Much of the filming on the English-language feature will be done in the underground salt mine in Wieliczka.
Sławomir Fabicki is set to write a screenplay based on the book, whilst Bogumił Godfrej will be in charge of photography. Both men were nominated for Oscars for the short film A Man Thing. Abel Korzeniowski will compose the film's score.
Speaking about his own work, Stanisław Lem once said:
The whole totemism and animism, as well as various other phenomena found in primitive cultures, is based on the premise that the whole world can be regarded as a dispatch addressed to its inhabitants. This can lead creators of certain social systems to take advantage of it, but also go beyond the boundaries foreseen by political dictators. From this moment on - everything becomes a message. For example, there may follow an absolutist conspiracy theory… to the extent that everything, rain included, becomes a symptom which can be interpreted as a sign of what may come in the political sphere - be it good or bad […] Moreover, the book is informed by a fortunate connection of spooky atmosphere and humour. This kind of black comedy seems to me now both a genius temporis and signum temporis. And is still! Nothing indicates that this should change.
According to Polish film producer, Wojciech Pałys, principal photography will begin at the start of the first three months of the shooting schedule, at the beginning of 2012, whilst the première of the film is set for the end of 2012 and early 2013. The film’s budget will be around 3 million euro. "We intend to make this film realistically, we’re not thinking of Hollywood budgets", he stipulated.
The producers are opting for British and American actors for the film's lead roles. Casting is already underway, although it’s too early to confirm the names of potential cast members.
In accordance with the film-makers' wishes, Memoirs Found in a Bathtub is meant to stay faithful to the original narrative in being set in a futuristic underground complex, which serves as an allegory for social totalitarianism. Its hero is a secret agent sent to an apocalyptic underground city: a world where the protagonist seems to be the only figure of normality. The "memoirs" in question are his and he continues his secret mission despite threats made to his life.
The film’s director, Roger Christian, has received two Oscars for his films. The Dollar Bottom (1981) which won in the Best Live Action Short Film category. He's found success as a set designer and was also honoured for George Lucas’s Star Wars (in conjunction with the set design for Ridley Scott's Alien). Roger Christian is a member of the British Academy of Film. (BAFTA).
Lem's 1972 novel Solaris was adapted by Andrei Tarkovsky in 1972 and by Steven Soderbergh in 2002 (starring George Clooney). Currently, Israeli director Ari Folman is working on The Congress, an animated film adaptation of Lem's Futurological Congress (published in 1971) .
Date: Filming: 2012, Premiere: 2012/2013
Location: Poland
Source: PAP, solaris.lem.pl