"There will never be a paradise on Earth if free and reasonable people are to live in it. Freedom is achieved through aspirations, and not through their implementation, after which one would only have to rest on the laurels of victory." - S. Lem.
Return from the Stars
Soviet miniseries based on Stanislav Lem's book "Powrót z gwiazd" (Return from the Stars). After 9-year interstellar expedition to Fomalhaut, the astronauts returned home. On Earth 127 years had passed and everything had changed. The Earth no longer has wars, and the society is a safe and comfortable place to live, due to betrization prodcedure that turns off natural aggressive instincts at birth. But the humanity has last something more. In this Uttopian society people don't need deep emotions, a strong character, the ability to overcome oneself and win at incredible odds. Before the main character there is a choice: to accept the new norms of society, or to be seen as a savage. Or maybe to leave the Earth again on another expedition?
Episodes
Part 1 - In Another Era. El Bragg returns to Earth and meets Nyees in the cosmport. He is trying to make sense of of the new Earth society and its customs which are very different from when he left 127 years prior. Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyhvfcVsG_8
Part 2 - The Price of the Flight. El Bragg learns about betrization. He is unsure if he would have a place in a new society. Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuRFfnmurOM&t=10s
Part 3- The Color of Getting Old. When visiting a doctor, El Bragg talks about dangers he and his comrades faced exploring Fomalhaut. The doctor warns that there is little interest in space exploration and that he is seen as a neanderthal by many. El also learns about effects of utopian Earth society on personal relationships. Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fw98JcPz8g&t=2s
Part 4 - Weightlessness. El Bregg meets the actress of real Ayen. Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXcvdRVovqw&t=4s
Part 5 - Accident. El Bragg meets Eli and Mandger at the villa retreat. He visits robot factory with Madger and is concerned about near complete human dependent on robots. Olaff visits Bragg and they discuss their experiences on Earth, El confides that he has a crash on Eli. Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Gb-yCKMl8&t=9s
Part 6 - Earth. El confesses his love feelings for Eli. He tells her about his near-death experiences at Farmagusta that involved seeing his dead friend Thomas. He considers if life on Earth is what he wants and what he and her would do in the future. Episode Video (original studio release, Russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtXchnBE68&t=5s
