China premieres first 8K documentary on manned spaceflight mission

BEIJING -- China's first space documentary, filmed in 8K ultra-high-definition cameras by its astronauts, premiered in theaters on Friday. The film offers an awe-inspiring spectacle that rivals the visual grandeur of "2001: A Space Odyssey," all captured in real life.

The "SHENZHOU XIII," or "Blue Planet Outside the Window," chronicles the Shenzhou XIII mission featuring China's first six-month manned space station stay and the first spacewalk by a Chinese female astronaut.

Largely told by Wang Yaping, the country's first female astronaut venturing on a mission to the space station, the documentary offers unprecedented, spectacular views of our planet from about 400 kilometers above and gives intimate glimpses into life aboard the station.

The 90-minute film employs a straightforward narrative style to tell the story of the astronaut trio — Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu. It depicts their experiences in space, including conducting experiments, going on spacewalks, exercising, getting haircuts, playing musical instruments, celebrating the New Year, giving lectures, and filming 8K footage.

The specialized filming equipment was delivered to the space station via the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft.

"The immersive journey, brimming with traditional Chinese space aesthetics, may not have any thrilling plot twists, but it's incredibly captivating," Ning Xiaojing commented on a Chinese movie ticketing platform Maoyan.

Another moviegoer, Li Meng, described the documentary as being "more precious than any VR experience in a science museum." "It's not a simulation, but the real thing seen through the astronauts' eyes," Li added.

The Hollywood Reporter, a US movie media outlet, lauded the new documentary as a work that helps "Chinese cinema chart new frontiers," after it was showcased in March as the centerpiece of the China Film Pavilion at Hong Kong's Filmart.

The Shenzhou XIII mission sent three taikonauts to China's space station core module on Oct 16, 2021, and returned to Earth on April 16, 2022.

"The space film was only possible due to China's continuous remarkable achievements in manned spaceflight," said the film's director Zhu Yiran.

In the film's closing moments, Wang narrates: "The story of Shenzhou XIII is drawing to a close, but the story of China's space station is just beginning."

At present, the Shenzhou XX crew is engaged in a manned spaceflight mission at the orbital lab, which now features expanded complexes. China also aims to successfully achieve a manned lunar landing by 2030.