TRF Rauschenbach ENPRO

Genre: Documentary
Format: PAL / SECAM, DV-Cam, DV-Avi
Runtime: 26:08 min
Languages: RU (orig.), EN, FR, DE
Trailers: 1:31 (EN), 1:49 (Music), 3:38 (EN)

Topic: The film narrates the life and the exceptional human and spiritual track of Boris V. Rauschenbach, an outstanding scientist first deported to Siberia during World War II, and then appointed to roles of highest responsibilities in the “space-run”. His search opened to him unexpected horizons to his scientific activities, and to a deep faith in God.

Plot: Through the use of personal reflections of Boris Rauschenbach, quotations of poems of Rainer Maria Rilke and interviews of relatives of this outstanding scientist of the 20th century the film depictes the scientific work and the spiritual development of Rauschenbach. He tells us in first person about his youth, his childhood dreams which became later reality, his professional aspirations and accomplishments, his exile in the Urals because of his German origin during World War II, and his research for truth. Interviews with his wife and his family as well as interviews with collegues and specialists round up the picture. Boris Rauschenbach was deeply involved in the space program which brought the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin. In order to solve technical problems in the remote flight control system of a spaceship, Rauschenbach discovered that the practical sollution could be found in the application of inverse perspective, commonly used in Russian iconography. Studying this subject more deeply he discovered the spiritual value of these paintings and continued to dig deeper in their meaning, which finally led him to the discovery of God and the reality of an afterlife. A near death experience strengthened considerably his faith. He openly visited Churches, explained to his atheist collegues the meaning of iconography and spoke publically about theology. Only his scientific expertise, which was strongly needed by the soviet government in order to hold up in the space-run against America, prevented his arrest.

Artistic Considerations: This movie stands out for its strong poetic character, provided by the personal memoirs of Boris Rauschenbach and the poems of Rainer Maria Rilke. Precious amatorial shootings and original newsreel material of the Russian 1960s space program combined with marvelous examples of Russian iconography help to synchronize the picture with the content. The tasteful choice and use of classic music pieces help to harmonize the whole for the spectator.