Baikonur

I thought that it was a delightful film. Somewhat quirky plot but well played, beautifully filmed and showed real-time Russian space-age equipment and training. IMHO, too many self-appointed "critics" spend their time running down films they don't like. Why not use your "talents" in writing about what you LIKED about these Prime videos from Amazon? It has gotten so bad that I ignore most comments and go by the cast, directors and general plots. Just realized that I did not write enough to submit a review. OK, the actress who played Julie (Marie Villepin) is a heartthrob and the life of the Kazakhs and their beautiful carpets is very enlightening and attractive.

Baikonur is the most famous Soviet cosmodrome and this beautiful comedy is set nearby where local Kazakh people live off space debris that literally falls down from heavens.

One of them manages to save the French astronaut who gradually gets into the space program as a potential Russian astronaut.

German director Veit Helmer had access to Baikonur training grounds and the infrastructure so he manages to capture its majestic beauty and its rich retrofuturist texture. There are great contrast between native Kazakhs still living low tech lives and their neighbouring cosmodrome but there are also many things that connect the together since both seem to be forgotten by the rest of the world that leaps forward.

The film is poetic, gentle and funny with a crazy brass score. I really liked it a lot and in this case the mix of ethnic comedy and elements of space travel and astronautics actually feels natural and wonderful.

It may be a quirky film but it seems to show an inner human desire. This is a movie with a plot that is based on something really new and different; not like the millions of other movies out with pre-set money-spinning plot.

Imaging a gorgeous astronaut falling out of the sky who is visually so delightful as compared to the mundane looks of the people around in the Steppes. In a "finder's keeper" society, won't ithere be an urge to keep such a beautiful pet!