September 27, 2020

First Artistic Film from Space


First Artistic Film from Space
The International Space Station could be the setting for a new artistic film. Image by NASA via Wikimedia Commons

Roscosmos, Russia’s state space agency, has announced plans to shoot an artistic film about the International Space Station (ISS) from the station itself. The film is tentatively titled Challenge («Вызов»), and some space experts think the project is a call out to Elon Musk.

So far, there is no specific information about when the film will be available to the public, but shooting is planned for fall 2021. The main actor and his understudy will be selected via an open competition, then will head to the ISS via the Soyuz-MS. The film’s director will be Klim Shipenko, and the producers are Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, and Konstantin Ernst, the General Director for Channel One (Первый канал).

While the details for Roscosmos’ project remain unclear, there is some information from NASA and SpaceX as regards their project to shoot a film in space. Back in May, NASA announced that they were working with Tom Cruise to have him act in a film from the ISS itself.

Reactions to Roscosmos’ announcement are mixed. Russian astronaut Sergey Ryazansky commented that Roscosmos is correct that “all means are good” to help popularize space travel in Russia. Former astronaut turned politician Yelena Serova stated that she does not see any difficulties in this project, as even astronauts themselves are used to filming their daily life onboard the ISS.

Yet not everyone is as supportive of the project. Space expert Vadim Lukashevich believes that the film is simply an expression of the director’s jealousy of Elon Musk. Alexander Golubchikov, director of development for Cinema and TV Shows at Salo marketing agency, said he believes the project is simply a PR stunt: “By and large, there is no sense in this, this is purely a PR story. For an actor to fly into space, he must have remarkable health, undergo training at the Cosmonaut Training Center, this is too complicated a story to do a similar project within a year or two.”

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955