There are few, though, who contest its visual influence on the genre of science fiction. Although this film is quite comic, it exemplifies the shift from humor to realism in science fiction film that was happening throughout the 1920s, as it also conveys a serious tone. Foreign distributors saddled it with the embarrassing subtitles queen of mars or revolt of the robots. The film is based on the eponymous novel by alexi tolstoy. Come hear acclaimed concert pianist frederick hodges accompany a screening of the classic silent science fiction film, aelita. Aelita, aka aelita, queen of mars, is a 1924 film from the soviet union, directed by yakov protazanov it is 1921, as the russian civil war is winding down. A similar fate almost befell the first russian science fiction film, aelita. In a way, this film could be an equal criticism of both. This movie became such a hit in the soviet union that many new parents named their little girls aelita. In 1924 director yakov protazanov made tolstoys novel into the first soviet science fiction movie, aelita. Aelita, queen of mars 810 ostensibly russiasussrs first scifi film, this political 1924 space fantasy lays down a surprisingly intelligent criticism of the communist revolution, once you look past the clunky, propagandistic symbolism on the surface. Kinda boring and not enough communist uprisings on mars, to be honest. Queen of mars is probably only really worth viewing for its historical interest. The film will premiere at the melbourne recital centre on 22 june 2018 with a live score by the spheres.
Russias first big budget science fiction spectacular. An iris revealing a set of powerlines is followed by a quick cut to an image of an electric current dancing between two wires. Later descriptions rarely delve deeper than this, from future tense by john brosnan in 1978. Queen of mars, a silent from 1924 that inspired such indispensable. Aelita queen of mars russian sciencefiction film english. Watch the first russian science fiction film, aelita. The movie is set at the beginning of the nep new economic policy in december, 1921. It takes an inordinately long time for the main character to reach mars, although mars is shown throughout the film, following aelita, queen of mars as she goes about. Queen of mars envisions life on mars through elaborate sovietera set design and bold futurist costumes that inspired the likes of mike hodgess flash gordon 1980 and fritz langs metropolis 1927. Some of the film involves the usual workers rights themes common to u. Upon receiving a mysterious radio message from mars, he decides to pose as a. Greatest rock n roll vietnam war music 60s and 70s classic rock songs duration.
The next sequence reveals scientists and military men in different regions of the. Aelita queen of mars russian sciencefiction film english intertitles. The film displays the humorous exploits of the bourgeoise zie, and the stark poverty the proletariat suffered in 1924 russia. Aelita is the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on mars in which the working classe are put into cold storage when they are not needed. Queen of mars, a silent from 1924 that inspired such indispensable classics as flash gordon and fritz langs metropolis. Queen of mars 1924 is an influential film about space travel by the soviet filmmaker yakov protazanov and is reimagined by avant guitarist marc ribot, guitarist for tom waits, elvis costello, and john zorn and the. Queen of mars, has been just as highly praised as it has often been misunderstood, primarily by western critics. Aelita is the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on mars in which the working class are put.
Queen of mars 1924 is an adventure, drama movie starring yuliya solntseva and igor ilyinsky. Nikolai tseretelli and valentina kuindzhi were cast in leading roles. He fled russia during the postrevolution civil war and worked for a time in france. The novel was adapted in the soviet union to silent film under the same title shot by yakov protazanov in 1924. Queen of mars isnt its plot, but its elaborate constructivist sets and costuming that were highly experimental for the 1920s and. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. Mikhail zharov and igor ilyinsky were cast in leading roles. Queen of mars envisions life on mars through elaborate sets and bold costumes underpinned by a distinctly human drama of power and revolt. Rarely seen, its known mostly from photos featuring oddlygarbed women posing amid disorienting geometric shapes. The nfsa has digitised the landmark russian feature film aelita. This incredible silent film centres on a distinctly human drama of power and revolt while boasting a galactic romance and a funky scifi. In this silent russian film, a loner engineer builds his own rocket and flies to the planet mars. Queen of mars 1924, one of the earliest and most rarely seen of the silent cinemas sciencefiction fantasies, screens today and saturday at 8 p.
It is also the first russiansoviet science fiction film, closely rivalled by lev kuleshovs the death ray luch smerti that was made the year after. Aelita is the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on mars in. The massage is by no else but aelita, the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of mars. Queen of mars is disappointing if youre looking for the first scifi film, as it is sometimes called. He has other problems, though, as he suspects that his wife is stepping out on him with a petty official who moonlights as a blackmarket dealer.
All the radio stations in the world receive a bizarre message from space, anta odeli uta. A mysterious radio message is beamed around the world, and among the engineers who receive it. On december, 1921 a mysterious radio message is beamed around the world. Yakov protazanovs 1924 film, aelita, begins in december of 1921 with the worldwide transmission of a cryptic message. But it is absolutely worth a look if youre interested in russiansoviet history, and the martian sequences, particularly the uprising, are pretty fabulous. It was based on alexei tolstoys novel of the same name. Russian said to be the first fulllength science fiction movie ever made, aelita. Yakov protazanov 1924, soviet union, digital cinema with live score. Queen of mars is a 1924 soviet scifi film directed by yakov protazanov. A silent film spectacle, it added jealousy, larceny, murder, farce, and a.
Aelita queen of mars, 1924 live soundtrack by galina. Queen of mars 1924 this is called the first soviet science fiction film because of its futuristic sets on mars, although most of it takes place in moscow. At this point, it is easy to see the influence of edgar rice burroughs mars series on the writers for this film. In 1929, aelita was described by the new york times as far more interesting to read about than to gaze upon. Yakov protazanov18811945 was a russian and soviet republic director and screenwriter, born in moscow. Aelita this is called the first soviet science fiction film, because of its futuristic sets on mars, although most of it takes place in moscow. The selling point of yakov protazanovs 1924 silent film aelita. It was most likely the first feature film to depict space flight and an alien society, and so holds a special place in the history of science fiction. This is the framebyframe restored version of aelita the original title of the film and play by aleksei tolstoy on which it was based, the added title queen of mars. I appreciate the time capsule though and always find silent films mesmerizing none the less. Queen of mars brisbane international film festival. Soviet science fiction film from 1924 in vintage ad archivist paul malons excellent flickr stream, i stumbled on this beautiful soviet film poster for a film titled aelita.
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