First to explain that 'soc. realism' - probably many are not familiar with that term - socialistic realism. Not even younger people living in Eastern European countries.
It was little mocking, sarcastic phrase for mostly by governments financed and controlled movies, theater plays, books . Basically it means presenting life in those countries much better than it was, idealizing it, ignoring bad things, displaying people as happy, etc. Well, now, when we saying this now, I must say that Hollywood does same in big part - except one huge difference - they are allowed to present government, CIA and others as bad .
I watched German release, with original sound and English subtitles. Second shortest movie after passenger 57 - some 75 minutes only. But probably because lot of it (Soviet propaganda and like) was removed. Of course, there is still lot of it, subtle propaganda is not removed, at least not completely. Film is done shortly after first successful satellite launching, and Sputnik was shown couple times, second time was way too unrealistic, but such was basically complete movie. I could even barely call this Sci-Fi - there was almost nothing of science, some attempt to make is by laws of physics ... They walked as we walk on Earth in 0 gravity - ah they had magnetic shoes. Space station was actually designed pretty good, was even rotating - but it was never connected with some artificial gravity. And what hurts especially for Russian movie - there was no sign of multi stage rocket technology, invented by otherwise mentioned Ciolkowski .
Plot: there was some way too simplified journey to Mars, actually 2 of it, in spirit of Great Space Race. I don't know how much of it was cut, but don't think that lost much. All it was so naive and of course in reality not possible to perform such rescue mission. OK, this was made in very early stage of space exploring. Still, whole story is so primitive and uninspired that only explanation is that is done by paid people - to make some nice propaganda.
Visual effect are best part - for year 1959, and probably only reason why this was distributed in Western countries - but after some serious cutting and in case of USA v. some added material.
At the end was landing, in really strange way - I wonder how they could make such big mistake. Well, probably there was almost no any use of consultants from space center of Russian cosmic program. And that would be another worst part together with plot.
Rating 2 - only because of effects.
I watched German release, with original sound and English subtitles. Second shortest movie after passenger 57 - some 75 minutes only. But probably because lot of it (Soviet propaganda and like) was removed. Of course, there is still lot of it, subtle propaganda is not removed, at least not completely. Film is done shortly after first successful satellite launching, and Sputnik was shown couple times, second time was way too unrealistic, but such was basically complete movie. I could even barely call this Sci-Fi - there was almost nothing of science, some attempt to make is by laws of physics ... They walked as we walk on Earth in 0 gravity - ah they had magnetic shoes. Space station was actually designed pretty good, was even rotating - but it was never connected with some artificial gravity. And what hurts especially for Russian movie - there was no sign of multi stage rocket technology, invented by otherwise mentioned Ciolkowski .
Plot: there was some way too simplified journey to Mars, actually 2 of it, in spirit of Great Space Race. I don't know how much of it was cut, but don't think that lost much. All it was so naive and of course in reality not possible to perform such rescue mission. OK, this was made in very early stage of space exploring. Still, whole story is so primitive and uninspired that only explanation is that is done by paid people - to make some nice propaganda.
Visual effect are best part - for year 1959, and probably only reason why this was distributed in Western countries - but after some serious cutting and in case of USA v. some added material.
At the end was landing, in really strange way - I wonder how they could make such big mistake. Well, probably there was almost no any use of consultants from space center of Russian cosmic program. And that would be another worst part together with plot.
Rating 2 - only because of effects.