Welt am Draht (1973) (TV) - The First version of the Novel that inspired 13th Floor

[Ivan]

Welt am Draht (1973) (TV)

Has anyone seen this? It is pretty hard to get is as I've read.

It is supposed to be very good and made in Germany, inspired by the same novel as 13th Floor from Daniel F. Galouye's, Simulacron-3.

IMDB Page

I've seen "Welt am Draht". Personally speaking, I didn't like it very well. Fassbinder is one of the most important producer in Germany, but I don't like his style. "Welt am Draht" is very slowly, dry and even more confusing and complex than "The 13th floor". But, okay, it's from 1973...
Perhaps you find the movie as a copy from the german tv channel WDR or ARD.

[Ivan]

Now that I finnaly saw it I must say that it is very good, and storywise much more interesting then 13th Flor adaptation of Simulacron novel.

There are many references that clearly show that Matrix creators used it as a reference in some aspects, like the exit through a phone booth idea. And the Green coloured simulated world.

I would recomend this movie to any fan of VR idea in movies.

[mack]

Was Simalucron the base for the Matrix?

[Ivan]

I think it was at least influenced by it, also I think Whackowski brothers most definately saw Welt am Drath.

There are clearly many references but the development is different, the story is also about an individual who starts to doubt the real world is in fact real. He is also a programer that actualy himself creates virtual worlds much like it was shown in 13th flor. And while Matrix spawns into an all out action , this one goes for the Mistery thriller - drama feel. Where the main character notices these strange occurances, like people disapearing and people's memory of events being totally ereased.

He starts to wonder if he is loosing his mind or has the whole world gone mad.

Simulacron promotes the idea of a neverending chain of virtual reality worlds, each on top of another as oposed to the one level simulation of Matrix.