The Spacewalker, also known as Vremya Pervykh in Russian, is a historical drama film that portrays the story of the Soviet Union's first human spacewalk. It depicts the events that occurred during the Voskhod 2 mission in March 1965 when cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Pavel Belyayev made history by stepping out of their spacecraft and into the vacuum of space.
The film is directed by Dmitry Kiselev and co-written by Yuri Korotkov and Aleksei Leonov, who was also the primary consultant for the project. The Spacewalker features a talented cast of actors, including Evgeny Mironov as Alexei Leonov, Konstantin Khabensky as Pavel Belyayev, and Vladimir Ilin as Sergei Korolev, the chief designer of the Soviet space program.
The movie begins by highlighting the fierce competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to achieve significant milestones in space exploration. The Soviet government assigns Alexei Leonov, an experienced fighter pilot, and Pavel Belyayev, a skilled spacecraft commander, to the Voskhod 2 mission, tasked with carrying out the first-ever spacewalk.
As the two cosmonauts embark on their mission, they encounter several challenges and near-death experiences, including Belyayev's illness, communication failures, and technical malfunctions. The film aims to capture the intensity and danger of the cosmonauts' journey while also depicting the emotional and psychological toll that such a mission can take on the human psyche.
The Spacewalker has received critical acclaim for its stunning visuals, realistic depiction of space travel, and exceptional performances by its cast. The movie provides a glimpse into the golden age of space exploration and commemorates the bravery of those who risked their lives to push the boundaries of human knowledge.