Gostya iz budushchego

Even though dated by today's standards, "Guests of the Future" tends to be a very memorable children's show. I've always consitered Pavel Arsenov to be Russia's "Leiji Matsumoto".

Plot revolves around 11 year old Kolya Gerasimov who discovers a time machine in a basement of an old house in Moscow and gets transferred into the 21st century. Then he is allowed to look around, everything seems to be different! Accidentally, Kolya witnesses two space pirates who arrive from Saturn and later try to steal a device called a "Mielophone" (which can read thoughts) from Alisa Seleznyova - a young girl who could talk to animals and machinery. Kolya manages to save the device from the pirates and brings it back to the 20th century. But both pirates and Alisa get there too. Alisa knows where Kolya studies but doesn't know what he looks like. Pirates saw Kolya, however, they know nothing about him.

Very deep plot, nice soundtrack and rather thought provoking, consitiering that the audience that is aimed for is children/pre-teen audience. It was availiable for a while (In Russian and Mandarin with Chinese subtitles), but I think they should re-release it again one day!

This film is an excellent example of how a touching and an exciting story could be told without the use of extravagant special effects. It is endearing in it's simplicity, full of humanity and wonder. This film, which I saw in the Soviet Union in 1984 (when it was first released)touched me very deeply. To this day, I remember watching it every time it was shown on television and when the last of the 5 series ended, I couldn't wait to see it again. It has been a great inspiration and is one of the reasons that I am pursuing a career in filmmaking. I wish that more of American films, especially those for children, were made with so much heart. In the U.S., it is available through Russian video stores, specifically in Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately, they are not subtitled. The music in the film, particulary the theme song "Prekrasnoye Daleko" ("A Wonderful Far-Away")is equally as touching and beautiful as the film itself. It could be found on Napster.

I think that Gost'ya Iz Buduschego is one of the best Russians minis for teens. I think i were near 6-8 parts of the movie. "One boy form 6th grade found a time machine in the old house where nobody lived. And he goes to the 21st century, just 100 years in future. In future he meat pirates, they tried to steal a "milafon" - machine to read minds and a story started..." Soundtrack for that movie was very popular in Soviet Union. Everybody loved that movie which was on TV every year.

Special thanks and tribute to memory of outstanding book,100 years ahead, and talent of Kir Bulychev .

In traditions of old fashioned Soviet style art, these serial projecting a lot of morale. It teaches spectators how to hold on to real friendship and love, embedding the story into adventure and sci fi of time travelling.

I recommend to watch this serial without hesitation. Of course for everyone who understands and enjoys old soviet cinematograph.

Curious fact. Alisa Selezneva, in one of the scenes, was making predictions for her school mates. They were all predicted to become celebrities or at least some success. But in real life most of those young actors became simple taxi drivers or small shop owners.

However the elder part of the crew managed to stay in actors profession. Evgeniy Gerasimov, robot Verter, made good career as actor.

Definitely you have had to live in 80s USSR to accept this series on mental and emotional levels. If you were not that lucky you can have a look how Soviets and their imaginable future looked. With sences, feeling, emotions and kindness in the front.