First on the Moon

First on the Moon

Year: 2005

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Alexey Fedorchenko

MysteryScience Fiction

Set in spring 1938, a fiery UFO—dubbed the Chilean Sphere—crashes in Chile’s northern mountains. A film crew’s investigation uncovers a secret Soviet space program from the 1930s, revealing that Soviet scientists launched a spacecraft 23 years before Gagarin’s flight. The mock‑documentary follows the pioneering cosmonauts’ daily life, bravery and tragedy, marking Russia’s first foray into the mockumentary genre.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – First on the Moon (2005)

Explore the full timeline and setting of First on the Moon (2005). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1938, 2000s

Primary events unfold in 1938, when Soviet scientists planned a Moon mission. A contemporary investigative team revisits those events in the 2000s, reconstructing what happened. The film also touches on decades of secrecy and possible purges that erased records.

Location

Chile (Antofagasta), Russian Far East, Mongolia, Polynesia, China

The story centers on Antofagasta, Chile, where landing footage is found in the Antofagasta Natural Museum. The investigation threads travel through the Russian Far East, Mongolia, Polynesia, and China as clues surface and suspects emerge. Archival sites and documented footage anchor the narrative, highlighting where memory and evidence converge.

🇨🇱 Chile 🗺️ Diverse locations 📚 Archival mystery

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:50

Main Characters – First on the Moon (2005)

Meet the key characters of First on the Moon (2005), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Captain Ivan Sergeyevich Kharlamov

A gifted pilot and early frontrunner among the selected cosmonauts, Kharlamov embodies the era's ambition and risk. He shines in training and is poised to pilot the lunar mission. He disappears after the launch, with his fate and the mission's truth obscured by suspicion and gaps in the record.

🚀 Pilot 🧠 Genius 🕵️ Secretive

Mikhail Roshchin

A key figure in the 1930s Soviet space program, Roshchin is a director-level presence tied to launch planning and program oversight. The NKVD investigation targets him, reflecting the era's climate of political risk. He navigates ambition, loyalty, and the threat of purges.

🎯 Leader 🕵️ Controversial 🏛️ State Power

Nadezhda Svetlaya

Wife of Kharlamov who covers for him during interrogations and investigations. She endures the strain of secrecy, later remarrying as the truth remains buried. Her loyalty conflicts with personal safety in a dangerous political atmosphere.

💞 Spouse 🧭 Loyalty 🌫️ Secrecy

Member of Medical Commission

A member of the medical commission who participates in the scrutiny of the cosmonauts and the consequences of the mission. The character embodies the tension between scientific evaluation and political pressure. The investigations hint at the fragility of medical judgment under state scrutiny.

⚕️ Medical Authority 🕵️ Investigation 🧬 Science

NKVD Operator

An operator of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, representing the security apparatus that monitors, interrogates, and sometimes suppresses the program. His presence marks the era's climate of fear and control over scientific exploration.

🗝️ State Security 🧭 Espionage 🛡️ Power

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:50

Major Themes – First on the Moon (2005)

Explore the central themes of First on the Moon (2005), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🚀 Space Secrets

An ambitious pre-war lunar mission is unearthed by journalists, revealing a parallel track to the known space program. The film details the selection, training, and launch of a cosmonaut crew, then leaves the fate of the mission in mystery. It probes how political pressure, censorship, and archival gaps reshape what history remembers. The tension between exploration and secrecy drives the narrative.

🧭 Memory vs Erasure

Characters carry memories that conflict with official records. The wife covers for her husband, while the state attempts to erase or rewrite events. The journalist's search exposes how memory can be manipulated, and how trauma lingers in veterans and their families. The film uses found footage to challenge the viewer's trust in history.

🕵️ Political Repression

Government power and security services loom over the mission, framing science within state control. The investigation hints that many involved in the program disappeared or were silenced. The film foregrounds the cost of political repression on science and personal lives.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:50

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Don't stop at just watching — explore First on the Moon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what First on the Moon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

First on the Moon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of First on the Moon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

First on the Moon Summary

First on the Moon Timeline

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First on the Moon Timeline

More About First on the Moon

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First on the Moon (2005) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

First on the Moon (2005) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

First on the Moon (2005) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow