Salyut-7: Tödlicher Wettlauf im All

This dramatization of what is essentially the Russian equivalent to "Apollo 13" is one of the best real life space 'adventures' made. Excellent production qualities, good script and acting and completely plausible effects. As a thriller, it's drier than "Gravity", but fans of "Apollo 13" should be very pleased and satisfied. Edit: I started writing this about half-way through. When the movie finished I upped the rating another notch, even as the god-awful credits song was playing. My only criticism is that whoever chose the music was selling something else.

A film who could have many names, from propaganda to biopic. Significant is the inspired storytelling , the technical work, the performances and nuances and precise build of dramatism. A film who seems, in many points, better than last space films made USA. . Because, it has something defining the characters and situations and tension escaping to demonstration, reminding the essence of humanity. And this detal represents, sure, for me, in profound subjective perspective, a huge virtue.

Being am American space geekette all my life, I was understandably drawn to the movie "Salyut-7". Let me start with my overall opinion of this production and then the why's.

Ready?

Outstanding Entertainment.

Make no mistake, this is a dramatized story of the events surrounding the rescue of the Salyut-7 research station after it became unstable and threatened Earth with an uncontrolled ballistic re-entry. It is NOT a documentary by any means of the imagination. This said, please note that the special effects are top notch and show a love of both reproduction the rugged dependability of Russian Space hardware as well as a keeping up with the Jones quality in the overall visual effects in both the captured directly to film footage and the post processing CGI effects. Kudos are well deserved.

The story is delivered in a tightly scripted yet dramatic setting replete with humor and situational challenges to be conquered as if planned on a clipboard checklist. This tone and story telling technique is apparent from the beginning of the movie and it prepares the viewer for a climatic ride where you are indirectly warned to just suspend your disbelief and to just hang on. Once you realize this is not a testament to the brave cosmonauts of the Soviet Space program nor a history of the role that the Salyut-7 research station played in the Soviet pride, it seems that you are invited into the tale being told.

This is a fictional story about men who fly into space and perform their assigned tasks with grit and determination. The classic well trained, stoic cosmonaut is missing from this story replaced by a very human repair crew.

The story is not as absurd as that presented in "Gravity" or so over the top as in "Apollo 13" yet you feel the drama build as each step in bringing the station back to life is met with the inevitable challenges of cold, water moisture, frustrating electronic components, failed servo-motors & sensors, EVAs and seemingly impossible to repair damage. fire and stress. All these challenges are conquered in turn as a cold war of decisions takes place at central space command including some terrifying consequences from the earlier events put to rest.

The crew is made more human with unusual flashbacks into their marriages and estranged relationships with contrived dialog moments, but the acting itself shows the love between these men and their lives with their families on Earth.

Decisions are made, the impossible becomes possible and you are left with a pleasant reminder that ingenuity does conquer all.

Asking for more from this film will simply frustrate you. Simply enjoy the ride.

Salyut 7 was something of a surprise discovery for me, just stumbling upon it.I wish it had received a wider attention, This movie feels like it came from nowhere and I lapped it up.Its a riveting and powerful film about human triumph over adversity. And the Gravity-like visuals really intensify the you-are-there feeling I guess you have to forgive dramatic license-this film used,its dramatizations, rather than a documentary, after all. Overall this is a great movie. And two days ago I'd never even heard of it.In any case, anybody who enjoyed either Apollo 13 or Gravity will likely really enjoy this film, it's nice to see Russian cinema demonstrating its ability to measure up to Hollywood and give us a different flavor.

A film like this is always going to draw comparisons to Gravity, and while it doesn't contain the kind of hair-raising action scenes of that film, Salyut-7 does manage to offer a sustained level of tension that lifts it far above the average space movie fare.

This is a good dramatic story well told. Initially I found the main character to be a rather stuffy and wooden, but as the film progresses this reveals itself as a reserved stoicism that makes him a well-rounded and likeable character. The photography and special effects are first class and the acting is universally convincing.

I had no expectations when watching this and was pleasantly surprised. That it is based on a little known true story just makes it all the more exciting and engrossing. The short mid-credits footage of the actual cosmonauts is worth sticking around for too. It's a well-deserved 9/10 from me.