Synopsis
Jindřich Polák’s pioneering and much-imitated feature
Ikarie XB 1 is one of the cornerstones of contemporary sci-fi cinema. It predates
Star Trek and
Kubrick’s
2001: A Space Odyssey and was clearly an influence on both, as well as on almost every other science-fiction work that followed.
Adapted from
Stanisław Lem's 1955 novel
The Magellanic Cloud, the film is set in 2163 and follows a mission deep into space in search of alien life. During their perilous journey the crew confront the effects of a malignant dark star, the destructive legacy of the 20th century and, ultimately, the limits of their own sanity. With outstanding design and cinematography,
Ikarie XB 1 is imbued with a seriousness, intelligence and attention to detail rarely seen in science-fiction cinema of the period.