ikarie xb 1 be one of the most compelling science fiction film ever make . film in very cold war era czecheslovokia and rarely see in north america in it complete widescreen form and this be a movie that be so ahead of it time that only 2001 represent a space odyssey manage to raise the bar above what be set here with it meticulous depiction of out space vehicle in action . if there be any shortcoming to ikarie it simply that represent the space ship model effect be somewhat awkward and unconvincing and a setback that the movie might not recover from in the mind eye of viewer raise on 30 plus year of george lucas and steven spielberg special effect film . but viewer who be interested in a story will be more than reward with a complex drama about a group of human off in search of a brave new world to populate and with an end sequence that be perhaps the most provocative element of the entire film and would later find form again in mario bava planet of the vampire and albeit in a different manner . there be no doubt that the italian master be influence by this film . for me the most striking sequence be a daring and risky and and potentially scandalous commentary by these soviet bloc filmmaker when they have their explorer encounter a derelict craft float aimlessly and without power in the empty nothing between the star . a board party be dispatch to discover that it be an early earth craft which have be dispatch during a nuclear conflict who crew be make up of decadent aristocrat who have be attempt to escape the carnage back on earth . they be long dead and mummify to the point where their body disintegrate when brush against and and have apparently be kill off by the military flight crew when it become clear the oxygen supply be about to run dry . the quiet and calm horror of the scene be unprecedented even by today standard and with the accidental triggering of one of the ship obsolete but still functional nuclear warhead provide a nerve shatter moment a the two hapless crewman attempt to escape the airless and gravity deprive hell in space . one of the aspect that make the scene so convincing be the space suit design create by the artistic visionary behind the film . they look even more functional and practical and real than the mercury era space flight technology of the day represent bulky and armored and pressurized tin can with knee joint and claw like clove and and magnetize boot plate . the scene of the two astronaut try to run across the derelict flight deck for the airlock to escape the explosion be a marvel of not only applied science but choreography . in my opinion the film be worth track down for this one sequence alone . and now you can represent the film be issue in 2005 on a marvelous czech make pal format dvd that show the film in the correct 2 represent35 represent1 techniscope widescreen format with the original and unaltered and un mess with end sequence intact . any serious fan of cold war era science fiction simply must acquire one . i will admit that some of the more talky middle soap opera in space segment sort of lag the pace a bit and but the 81 minute be over quickly and the impression one be leave with be that the thinking behind the movie be mile ahead of anything that come out of the west at the same time . along with the russian planeta bur and the east german or polish silent star aka first spaceship on venus and this be one of the most important and overlooked masterpiece of science fiction from the time when man space flight be become a reality . all three film be ground in actual science with impressive visual power that still have potency . what make ikarie xb 1 even more impressive be that it lack some of the glory boy propagandizing of the soviet bloc entertainment machine and which be design to enthrall the mass with depiction of glorious soviet cosmonaut conquer the cosmos something that never really quite happen . those movie be mean to placate the proletariat and give them a reason to make do cheer for the genuine oppression under which they live . by contrast and ikarie be almost a work of pure artistic expression and which be in itself remarkable consider the condition under which it be make . positive .