I collect interesting artifacts of retrofuturism, as you may be aware. Here’s another example, an educational film produced and directed by Pavel Klushantsev. Mars (Russian: Марс) is an interesting blend of science fact and science fiction from over fifty years ago, discussing the technical possibilities and challenges of a manned Mars base.
According to Wikipedia, this was not the first scifi educational film by Pavel Klushantsev. He made another film named Luna (Russian: Луна́, “Moon”). Mars consists of seven pieces, which tell (based on scientific understanding of the 1960s) of the physical conditions on planet Mars, the possibility of life on Mars and what forms it might take, of Martian canals and “seas” of the Red Planet. In addition, the film includes the director’s fantasy hypothetical forms of life on mars, and of the exploration and colonization of Mars in the near future.
If’ you enjoy these retrofuturist artifacts, you might also enjoy Road To The Stars (1957) (Doroga k zvezdam). Made 4 years before Yuri Gagarin’s first space flight, it’s a fascinating look at what Russia thought spaceflight was going to be like and it’s not far off from the truth.
Hope you enjoyed this Retrofuturism post – Russia’s View of Mars from 1968 is one of those ancient but fun visions of what was going to be.
