Watch First on the Moon

First on the Moon is a Russian film released in 2005, directed by Aleksei Fedorchenko. This mockumentary is a fictionalization of the Soviet Union's race to become the first country to achieve manned lunar travel in the late 1930s. The film is presented in a faux documentary style, with a narrator presenting the progress of the Soviet program and interviews with fictional scientists and cosmonauts.

Boris Vlasov portrays Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, the chief Soviet rocket engineer, and Anatoliy Otradnov plays his assistant, Glushko. The film largely revolves around Korolev's efforts to develop a Soviet space program, which are spurred on by fierce competition with the United States. The Soviet Union is determined to overtake the U.S. in the space race, and sends a team of cosmonauts on a mission to the moon.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is the way in which it combines historical footage with staged reenactments. The film uses archival footage of Soviet propaganda films to add authenticity to the narrative, which makes the fictionalized version of the story all the more convincing. This approach also provides a fascinating glimpse into Soviet film-making techniques.

As the cosmonauts embark on their epic journey, the film revels in the minutiae of the space program, from the testing of equipment and trial runs, to the final countdown before launch. As the mission progresses, the stakes become higher, especially as political tensions escalate between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Despite the film's lighthearted mockumentary style, it is also an incisive commentary on the Cold War and the arms race. The scientists and cosmonauts may seem like hapless figures lost in bureaucratic mismanagement, but their efforts are ultimately driven by a genuine desire to push the boundaries of human achievement. It is also worth noting that the film's presentation of the space program is very much in line with Soviet propaganda at the time, with the cosmonauts heralded as heroes of the motherland.

First on the Moon is also notable for its use of music. The film's score is a mix of orchestral compositions and popular Soviet tunes, which provide a contrast between the elegance of classical music and the raw, earthy sound of folk songs. The music adds to the film's sense of otherworldliness, as if the moon were a distant, exotic land.

Overall, First on the Moon is an entertaining and thought-provoking film that combines humor with a serious insight into the Soviet space program. The film is a testament to the human spirit and our ability to push the boundaries of science and exploration.