The utopian optimism of Star Trek. The existential dread of Alien. The whimsy and adventure of Star Wars. All these classic narratives are easily found in Russian science fiction, too – and yet, there is a very specific fleur to this “sub-genre” that has made it so captivating not just for Russian speakers, but for many readers and viewers abroad.
Although its history goes all the way back to the days of the Russian Empire, it is during Soviet times that it truly came into its own. Inspired by the new ideology of the nascent workers’ state, writers created instant classics in which they speculated on the nature of both individuals and society at large. Quite often, a major question would be: will scientific progress liberate and enlighten us – or will human nature forever create turmoil in ourselves?
Today’s four film picks have been hugely influential on filmmakers, writers, and audiences around the globe and represent, in a nutshell, the full aesthetic spectrum of Soviet and Russian sci-fi. They are presented here in chronological order, but can easily be viewed in any order of preference.
Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924)
Directed by Yakov Protazanov
There is a fascinating stage play-like quality to Aelita, based on the eponymous Alexey Tolstoy novel and considered by some to have been the first-ever “Soviet blockbuster” – complete with early attempts at a viral marketing campaign.
The plot zig-zags between two worlds: Earth, where a handful of characters are adjusting to life in the new Soviet state, and Mars, where a strange, authoritarian civilization observes us from afar; the two plot threads are connected by the character of Mstislav Los, a scientist who dreams of traveling to the red planet and ends up falling in love with its queen and eventually leading a planet-wide revolution.
Solaris (1972)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
In the world of sci-fi filmmaking, few works are as influential as Solaris; though less familiar to the general audience than its contemporary 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), it has had a tremendous impact on countless directors from Akira Kurosawa to Christopher Nolan.
Adapted from Polish writer Stanisław Lem’s novel of the same name, Solaris centers on a cosmonaut who travels to a mystery planet that has the power to influence the minds. What follows is a gorgeously-shot, character-driven exploration of human nature, love, and death that proves very captivating even despite the near 3-hour runtime.
Credit: Soviet Artefacts (@sovietartefacts) via Unsplash
The Secret of the Third Planet (1981)
Directed by Roman Kachanov
However, if you’re in for some more light-hearted fare, The Secret… should be right up your alley. A classic of Soviet children’s animation, it’s based on the long-running series of novels about Alisa Seleznyova, a 22nd-century schoolgirl who is constantly involved in various adventures both on Earth and in space.
Whilst on a trip to procure some unusual alien species for the Moscow Zoo, Alisa and her companions visit a series of bizarre planets, encounter strange creatures, and uncover an intergalactic conspiracy. The film’s unique character designs, most notably of the adorable alien Gromozeka, have secured its culturally significant status through many idioms and memes.
Hard to Be a God (2013)
Directed by Aleksei German
In a feat worthy of Terry Gilliam, Hard to Be a God has gone through hell and back to make it onto the silver screen. Production on the film began in 2000 and finally wrapped in 2006; then, post-production continued for another 7 years until the director’s death in 2013. The picture was completed by his family and finally released later in the same year to great acclaim. Though a box office failure, it was, curiously, an even bigger critical success abroad than in its country of origin, and has since gained cult status among cinephiles.
An adaptation of the novel by famed Soviet authors the Strugatsky brothers, the story follows a scientist who, upon arriving to an Earth-like planet stuck in its Medieval period, struggles between staying hidden or bringing enlightenment to the local civilization.
For more sci-fi recommendations, read our features on 5 films that pushed technology forward, the best comic books for science lovers, our picks of underrated science documentaries, and 6 movies about scientists you probably haven’t seen.
