Nov 5, 2023
If there's something we can truly be proud of in the Czech Republic, it's Czechoslovak cinematography. The number of creatively innovative works from various periods is extraordinary for such a small country. However, only a few films managed to gain wide recognition on an international scale. Ikarie XB 1 is the first and only serious endeavor in the genre of classic science fiction that caught the attention of both the general audience and professionals.
The film was made in 1963 under the direction of Jindřich Polák, who, together with Pavel Juráček, also created the script. It was loosely inspired by the novel Obłok Magellana by Polish writer Stanisław Lem.
Before we get into the plot, it's essential to understand the time and conditions in which this film was made.
It was the 1960s; the Cold War was raging. The world was divided by the Iron Curtain into west and east. The USA and the Soviet Union were competing in space exploration. The Soviets took the lead when they sent the first human crew into orbit in 1961. This achievement sparked a massive wave of euphoria and interest in everything related to space. That's why this film could be made, with a budget of 6 million crowns. Compared to today's film budgets, this might seem modest, but it was a substantial amount at the time. The budget allowed the use of innovative effects: new camera angles, special lighting creating a gloomy atmosphere, excellent sound design, and music by the brilliant composer Zdeněk Liška. Looking beyond its artistic qualities, I appreciate the film's avoidance of pervasive politicization despite pressure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and censorship of the era.
The story takes place on board the spaceship Ikarie XB 1 in the year 2163. The crew, which is traveling to the star Alpha Centauri, is searching for signs of extraterrestrial life. When they encounter an unknown wreck of a spacecraft during their journey, they gradually realize that the ship comes from Earth at the end of the 20th century. This discovery causes significant disruption in the expedition, and the mood on board dramatically changes as the awareness of human society has evolved significantly since those times.
It's odd that this film escaped my attention for so long. I'll never forget the moment I saw it for the first time. The special effects and the vision of the future, which today might seem naive, are utterly enchanting. Coupled with the acting performances of the top actors of that time, it completely drew me into the story.
It's no coincidence that this film influenced Stanley Kubrick while making "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the creators of the cult series Star Trek.
The film was originally intended to be shot in color, but the suitable Kodak for CinemaScope was too expensive, and the alternative Agfa was rejected due to its color instability. Therefore, a black-and-white version was produced.
In 2016, the film was digitally restored and converted to 4K resolution as part of a project supported by grants from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
Movie to watch online.
MG
