Space Tourists DIRECTOR: Christian Frei Switzerland, 2009, 98 min., color Russian/Romanian/English with English subtitles
Anousheh Ansari has dreamt of going into outer space since she was a child. A number of years and $20 million later, with the help of the Russian space program, her dream is realized—Ansari becomes the first female space tourist. In recent years, a number of private citizens like Ansari have been willing to endure rigorous training in Star City, Kazakhstan, and part with significant funds to spend time aboard the International Space Station.
Director Christian Frei (The Giant Buddhas, Sundance Film Festival 2006) explores the impact of space tourism in the heavens and on Earth by adeptly weaving together multiple strands: Ansari’s joyous experience in orbit; the efforts of local villagers to claim black market rocket debris; the observations of photographer Jonas Bendiksen; and the training of the next space tourist in line. Space Tourists examines the intersections of human enterprise and commerce in the final frontier.
Sundance trailer and photo preview available at /Film
eurospace Member
Posts: 2003 From: Berlin, Germany Registered: Dec 2000
posted December 30, 2009 12:53 PM
I have seen Frei's "War Photographer". He is certainly an excellent documentary film maker with a very sensitive view on things and images. Expect an excellent movie that leaves you thoughtful. I would suppose Frei would be trying to get his movie through movie theatres first before releasing it on DVD.
issman1 Member
Posts: 531 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted January 26, 2010 08:20 AM
It's currently being showcased at the Sundance Film Festival. If it wins a prize then it can only bring the subject matter to a wider audience. Which in the current climate would be a good thing.
cspg Member
Posts: 2508 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted February 03, 2010 01:03 AM
It won a prize:
Category: World Cinema Directing Award - Documentary Winner: Space Tourists
Lasv3 Member
Posts: 119 From: Bratislava, Slovakia Registered: Apr 2009
posted February 03, 2010 01:53 AM
Then hopefully it is released as a DVD soon, it seems to be a thrilling document.
What took me by surprise (shown in the trailer) was the fact there are private "entrepreneurs" collecting the crashed strap-on Soyuz boosters in the steppe. I look forward to see it on my TV!
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 975 From: Gardner, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2003
posted February 03, 2010 05:29 PM
It's interesting seeing the spent boosters like that. There have been over 100 Soyuz flights... are all those rockets just laying around like that?
It would be interesting to save the "historical" rockets. I'm sure some of these tourists would buy them.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 19510 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted February 03, 2010 06:14 PM
The spent boosters are collected not as souvenirs but to be sold as scrap metal. There have been several articles written over the years about how it is source of income for the people in the area.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 975 From: Gardner, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2003
posted February 03, 2010 06:29 PM
Wow, I read some of the articles regarding the N-1 tanks and such. This documentary looks interesting though. I can't wait to see it on DVD as well (or wherever it's playing!). Thanks Robert.
Lasv3 Member
Posts: 119 From: Bratislava, Slovakia Registered: Apr 2009
posted February 04, 2010 12:45 AM
Well, Russians seem to know how to earn money on space. Their flourishing ISS space tourism is another prove.
ASCAN1984 Member
Posts: 848 From: County Down, Nothern Ireland Registered: Feb 2002
posted July 12, 2010 12:30 PM
Is there any more news when this might be available on DVD?
cspg Member
Posts: 2508 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted July 12, 2010 11:31 PM
I guess not before the film has toured the different film festivals worldwide. It will be shown in Melbourne, Australia late July early August.
cspg Member
Posts: 2508 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted August 19, 2010 01:18 AM
The documentary will be broadcast on Swiss German channel 1 (SF1) August 20 (for Swiss viewers).
posted November 01, 2009 01:33 AM
But it is possible to subscribe for the notice when it is...
advertisement