Watch Interkosmos

Interkosmos is a highly experimental, avant-garde film that explores the theme of space travel and the impact of space exploration on human consciousness. Directed by Jim Finn and released in 2006, the film is an unusual fusion of fiction and documentary styles, as it tells the story of a fictitious East German space mission to Venus in the 1970s, but incorporates real-life footage from Soviet and American space programs from the same era.

The movie begins by introducing the six members of the Interkosmos crew, including the captain, the doctor, the engineer, the mechanic, the linguist, and the cook. Each member is introduced through a series of brief vignettes that provide some insight into their personalities and their reasons for joining the space mission. The captain is a stoic, no-nonsense type, who is driven by a fierce sense of patriotism and duty. The doctor is a neurotic hypochondriac who is obsessed with monitoring the crew's vital signs. The engineer is a pragmatic and resourceful mechanic who is constantly tinkering with the spaceship's systems. The mechanic is a laid-back surfer type who loves to play his guitar in his free time. The linguist is a young woman who speaks several languages and is fascinated by the nuances of human communication. The cook is an eccentric artist who creates whimsical sculptures out of food.

As the crew prepares for liftoff, they are shown undergoing a battery of physical and psychological tests, as well as receiving training in weightlessness and other space-related skills. The scenes of their preparations are interspersed with actual footage from the Soviet and American space programs, including clips of astronauts floating in zero gravity, performing experiments, and communicating with Mission Control.

Once the Interkosmos crew is in flight, the film takes on a dreamlike quality, as the crew members begin to experience hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. There are scenes of the doctor, who is taking a variety of medication to combat his anxiety, seeing giant bugs crawling across the walls of the spaceship. The linguist becomes obsessed with trying to decipher a mysterious signal that is coming from deep space. The mechanic has vivid visions of his family and friends on Earth, and of the beautiful landscapes he left behind. The captain begins to question the morality of the mission, and whether it is worth risking the lives of the crew members for the sake of achieving national glory.

Some of the most interesting scenes in the movie involve the interactions between the crew members, who come from very different backgrounds and have very different outlooks on life. There are tense moments of conflict and misunderstandings, as well as moments of camaraderie and mutual support. The film is heavily influenced by the aesthetics of Soviet propaganda films, with its stark black-and-white cinematography and bold, graphic design. However, it also subverts and critiques some of the ideological underpinnings of Soviet space policy, such as the emphasis on collectivism and sacrifice for the greater good.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Interkosmos is its use of an artificial, robotic voiceover that narrates the action of the film. The voiceover is meant to evoke the monotone and emotionless language of machine communication, while also providing a counterpoint to the rich, subjective experiences of the crew members. The effect is both disorienting and mesmerizing, creating a sense of detachment and abstraction that is in keeping with the film's overall style.

Overall, Interkosmos is a fascinating and challenging film that rewards careful viewing and reflection. Its mix of fictional narrative, documentary footage, and experimental techniques makes it a unique contribution to the genre of space movies, and a commentary on the human desire to explore the unknown.