The Wonder of it All

What an amazing film.

I didn't know what to expect when I walked into an advance screening of this film several weeks ago. The space race has been covered ad nauseum in the past, most recently in the disappointing film In the Shadow of the Moon, which to me was just a rehash of the same old stuff. (Besides, they only concentrate on the Apollo 11 mission, when there were six missions that went to the moon. What about the other guys?) This film is different because it introduces the astronauts who walked on the moon as people. I didn¢t know anything about the different personalities of the astronauts before this film. But the seven astronauts featured are so different, and by the time the film is over you feel like you actually know them personally. It is as if you have been invited to their homes for a personal conversation.

There are many subjects covered that I never thought of before. What does moon dust smell like and feel like? What happens after you walk on the moon, then have to find an occupation later? What do you think of when you look at the moon after being there many years ago? The style of the documentary is unlike anything I've ever seen before. There is no narration. It's made up of conversations with the astronauts that have been edited smoothly to make an ongoing dialogue. At first I didn¢t think it would work for the entire film, but there is a crescendo that happens that makes the whole film worthwhile and wonderful.

I hope that this film comes out on DVD soon. I would like to own a copy. It is worth watching over and over