Ikarie XB-1, Jindrich Polák, Czechoslovakia, 1963, 81' OV with Spanish subtitles, DCP
We present one of the key films in the history of science fiction, one of those works way ahead of its time, which later influenced such fundamental films as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) by Stanley Kubrick. Chroniclers say that Kubrick looked at these images over and over again while preparing his particular trip to outer space. We can also glean from texts on cinema history that it was a visual reference for films such as Planet of the Apes (1968) by Franklin J. Schaffner, Solaris (1972) by Andrei Tarkovski, and even Ridley Scott’s classic, Alien (1979), mainly with regard to the narrative details of the abandoned ship. And to complete the look at possible influences, the transparent miniature effects used in Ikarie XB-1 presage George Lucas's Star Wars (1977) a good few years. All of this clearly indicates what a fundamental film this is. The digital version restored in 4K by the National Film Archive (NFA) of the Hungarian Filmlab was presented at Cannes last year. We are delighted to share it with audiences here.
It is the year 2164. The Ikarie XB-1 spaceship is sent to a mysterious planet orbiting around the Alpha Centauri star; as the journey transpires, at the speed of light, we witness the daily life of the crew: farther and farther away from their families and the solar system, their space routine much like life on earth: time for a gym workout, time for music, time for movies, time for love... And, like with any early 60s movie worthy of its time, there is much political allegory: will it be possible to find a planet where a new social model can be put into place? Or is there simply no way humanity can ever escape its terrible destiny?
Double session in collaboration with Cineclub Kresala, that will complete this pass with the screening of 2001: A Space Odissey (Stanley Kubrick, United Kingdom, 1968, 139’) in April 10th, at 7.30pm. It will be a unique opportunity to enjoy these two classics and identify its correspondences.
We present one of the key films in the history of science fiction, 'Ikarie XB-1' de Jindrich Polák, one of those works way ahead of its time, which later influenced such fundamental films as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) by Stanley Kubrick.