Sputnik
Konstantin Veshnyakov (Pyotr Fyodorov) and Dr. Tatyana Klimova (Oksana Akinshina)
Release Date: 2020 Running Time: 113 minutes Rated: NR
Language: Russian, with English subtitles
2 astronauts having a casual conversation about what they are going to do when they get back home… rarely ends up well. This is not one of those rare times. Back on earth, one of the astronauts, Captain Konstantin Veshnyakov (played by Pyotr Fyodorov) is in isolation and being put through test in a “research institute” ran by Colonel Semiradov (played by Fedor Bondarchuk). Captain Veshnyakov does not recall what happened from the point of beginning the landing procedures to being at the institute.
The colonel recruits Dr, Tatyana Klimova (played by Oksana Akinshina), a known neuropsychologist, to determine what happened on the ship and what indeed is wrong with Veshnyakov. When she enters the the facility it is apparent that there is something more sinister going on with the institute and their subject and she is reckless and rebellious enough to get to the bottom of it.
The mystery of his “ailment” is revealed fairly soon in the movie, the motives of the institute are as well.
Behind the curtain of the Institute
The practical effects were very well done. I loved the score, which was composed by Oleg Karpechev. The 3 main actors well executed their roles, established their motives for their actions. And there is a little “something” weaved into the plot that gives you a nice little twist in the third act. Available now on HULU.
In Retrospect ★★★★☆
