In 1902 French director Georges Melies released A TRIP TO THE MOON and delighted audiences worldwide, but science-fiction films didn't gain much respect or critical attention until the post-atomic era. Major exceptions were important films of the 1920s by German director Fritz Lang (METROPOLIS in particular, as well as WOMAN IN THE MOON) and by Soviet filmmakers (AELITA QUEEN OF MARS, for instance). In American cinema of the 30s and 40s space travel and the use of futuristic technology for world domination were relegated to Saturday kiddy-matinee serials (BUCK ROGERS and FLASH GORDON) and cartoons (SUPERMAN). However, after the explosion of atomic bombs over Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945, the world realized that a new power existed, one which could be used to destroy life or perhaps propel humans into outer space. Coincidentally, as earthly eyes gazed heavenward, UFO sightings became far more frequent, a manifestation of hopefulness and paranoia and perhaps sometimes truth. Human dreams of new possibilities in science and fantasy exploded. The 1950s brought a Golden Age of American sci-fi feature films involving space exploration and alien invasions. In 1957, after the Soviets successfully launched Sputnik - the first man-made satellite to orbit Earth -- the race was on to get to the moon (a feat realized in 1969 by American astronauts) and to explore other planets. During that time and beyond, fantasy literature and cinema showing terrors on other planets or dystopias on earth proliferated around the globe. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) and E.T. (1982) were the exceptions to the rule that alien beings were evil and came here to steal or destroy our planet. Kubrick's 2001 (1968), Tarkovsky's SOLYARIS (1972), Ridley Scott's BLADERUNNER (1982), and THE MATRIX trilogy (1999-2003) proved that sci-fi could be thought-provoking as well as entertaining and visually stunning. More recently, science-fiction cinema has begun to explore global warming, population stresses, and new and frightening diseases. We no longer need extraterrestrial aliens to be afraid, very afraid of the future. This AFS summer series will present a wide array of science fiction styles and themes from Czechoslovakia, France, the UK, Italy, Japan, the US, and, most intriguingly, the former Soviet Union (represented by four new 35mm prints of films apparently never seen in Texas).
-- Chale Nafus, Director of Programming, Austin Film Society
Thanks to Seagull Films, who allowed us to make selections from their traveling program, "From the Tsars to the Stars: A Journey Through Russian Fantastik Cinema, to Judith Sims for initiating the idea for the series, and to Marc Fort, Christian Raymond, Wiley Wiggins, Kier-La Janisse, and Bryan Poyser for contributing to the endless list of possibilities.
The planet of Ygam is inhabited by large blue-skinned, red-eyed, intelligent beings called Traggs. They spend most of their time meditating since education comes easily through a headphone with a soothing voice providing all necessary knowledge for survival. Among their possessions are tiny creatures called Oms (think "hommes"), which look suspiciously like human beings from Earth. » read more
This is an amazingly insightful film from 1936 which shows Soviet scientists preparing a rocket ship for a voyage to the moon. However, there won't be a group of robust, well-trained cosmonauts making the trip. Instead, an elderly scientist, a young woman, and a boy get on board to make the journey. » read more
In the near future the two spaceships Argos and Galliot are sent to investigate the mysterious planet Aura. As the Galliot lands on the planet her crew suddenly go berserk and attack each other. The strange event passes, but the crew soon discovers the crashed Argos - and learns that her crew died fighting each other! » read more
This prescient film depicts Earth caught in the throes of global warming and climatic chaos. No matter that in 1961 the cause of such a dramatic change was simultaneous nuclear explosions by Soviets and Americans on opposite sides of the globe, the effect on weather patterns was the same as what we fear from global warming. » read more
Strange seeds from a distant planet drift on cosmic winds down to Earth, where they take root and take over by duplicating humans through giant pods. The resulting full-sized clones are soulless automatons who do as they are told. » read more
The Soviet cosmonauts in PLANET OF STORMS land on the hot, uneven surface of Venus, which turns out to be a very inhospitable planet for humans but perfect for giant creatures. » read more
After a number of wars, the political realignment of planet Earth has become North Hemisphere vs. South Hemisphere. Both are in a race to reach Mars first. One expedition runs into trouble as it is pulled into the sun, while the other must crash-land on an asteroid circling the Red Planet » read more
For many of us AKIRA was the first theatrical anime experience. Otomo's creation still provides a stunning introduction to the seemingly endless possibilities of Japanese animation. 31 years after World War III, Neo-Tokyo is faced with a new challenge - an adolescent boy with super-human powers. » read more
Neeya is a striking-looking anthropoid found barely alive in an abandoned space craft. Brought to earth by the Russian space crew, she is nursed back to health and memory of her planet Dessa and its ecological collapse. Neeya's benefactor Sergey joins the crew of an environmental rescue mission, she sneaks on board and convinces Sergey to change course. » read more
