Title: Blade Runner
Year: 1982
Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Brion James, Joe Turkel, Joanna Cassidy, James Hong, Morgan Paull, Kevin Thompson
Genre: SF, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong, USA
Why in Database: In this movie, the turtle motif appears in one dialogue at the beginning, as part of the test to catch replicants. The test is designed to evoke appropriate reactions and help determine the nature of the person. Later in the film, this dialogue reappears, a piece of it, when the main character watches a recording of this test being performed.
– You look down and see a tortoise, Leon. It’s crawling toward you…
– Tortoise? What’s that?
– You know what a turtle is?
– Of course!
– Same thing.
– I’ve never seen a turtle. (pause) But I understand what you mean.
– You reach down and you flip the tortoise over on its back, Leon.
– Do you make up these questions, Mr. Holden? Or do they write ’em down for you?
– The tortoise lays on its back, its belly baking in the hot sun, beating its legs trying to turn itself over but it can’t. Not without your help. But you’re not helping.
– WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I’M NOT HELPING?
– I mean you’re not helping! Why is that, Leon? They’re just questions, Leon. In answer to your query they’re written down for me. It’s a test, designed to provoke an emotional response. (pause) Shall we continue?
– You look down and see a tortoise, Leon. It’s crawling toward you…
– Tortoise? What’s that?
– You know what a turtle is?
– Of course!
– Same thing.
– I’ve never seen a turtle.
Author: XYuriTT