Blu-Ray Review: World on a Wire

The simulation hypothesis proposes that you and I are living inside a simulation. In fact, we all are; wherever you may live in the world. This is an artificial world, most likely computer generated, run by beings with much higher intelligence than us. It is a theory which has helped fashion countless science fiction books, TV shows and films. One which the great Rainer Werner Fassbinder chose to adopt for a two-part mini-series, World on a Wire.

The Institut für Kybernetik und Zukunftsforschung (IKZ) houses a supercomputer which hosts a simulation boasting an artificial world of almost 10,000 units who live as human beings. Unaware that they are in fact computer-generated. Professor Vollmer (Adrian Hoven), the technical director at the institute, is on the verge of a huge scientific breakthrough before dying in mysterious circumstances. When a security advisor disappears in front of his eyes, his successor Dr. Fred Stiller (Klaus Löwitsch) starts to wonder if there’s something suspicious going on.

World on a Wire is a strange and enigmatic science-fiction mystery which feels like a mix of Godard’s Alphaville and a ‘70s Italian crime drama. At times it’s a struggle to keep up with the story but that’s half the joy. It’s so beautifully shot. Almost every scene feels like a work of art. Based on Daniel F. Galouye’s novel Simulacron-3, World on a Wire was originally shot in 16mm for German TV. It feels like a conundrum ripe for revisiting.

Special features:

No Strings Attached – an interview with assistant director Renate Leiffer
Observing Fassbinder a tribute to photographer Peter Gauhe
Looking Ahead to Today documentary
On-set featurette
Original Broadcast Recap
The Simulation Argument an interview with Professor Nick Bostrom
Optional English subtitles

Limited edition contents:

Rigid slipcase packaging
50 page perfect-bound booklet featuring new essays by Anton Bitel and Daniel Bird and archival writing by Daniel Oberhaus and Christian Braad Thomsen