"[It was a rectangular slab,
three times his height but narrow enough to span with his arms, and it was made
of some completely transparent material; indeed, it was not easy to see except
when the rising sun glinted on its edges.]
[It was a vague and diffuse sense of envy – of dissatisfaction
with his life. He had no idea of its cause, still less of its cure; but
discontent had come into his soul, and he had taken one small step toward
humanity.]"
Tratto da: Stanley Kubric, A space odissey 2001, 1968
La prima parte del film si svolge
nell'Africa di quattro milioni di anni fa: un gruppo di ominidi guidati da
un capo, sopravvive a fatica in un ambiente arido e ostile. Un giorno, davanti
alla loro grotta appare misteriosamente un grande monolito nero e gli
ominidi, venendovi a contatto, vengono pervasi da un'imprevista ondata di
conoscenza imparando a usare gli strumenti per cacciare gli animali e a
difendere il territorio uccidendo i nemici.
