Sputnik Mania

Nothing shows how foolish current behavior is like looking at the past. The launching of a satellite into space signaling the beginning of an entirely new age is quickly over shadowed by fear mongering and paranoia. Sputnik, little more than a ball of tin foil with a radio inside it and a blinking light (important as it was) was viewed in the U.S. as a sign that the Soviets were going to start dropping bombs on us from space.

This very straight forward and simple documentary takes us from the moment that Sputnik is launched into space in a remote corner of the Soviet Union (specifically Kazakhstan) to a year after. How excitement and happiness turned to hiding and ducking for cover in the course of a few days. We are all pretty familiar with certain bench marks, such as Sputnik, or us landing on the moon, but I was unaware and saddened learning that the first animal in space was a dog on Sputnik II that the Russians allowed to die in space simply because they didn't think it was prudent to send it up there with a way to come back. Also I didn't know that our first attempt to send up a satellite was a complete disaster, an explosion really.

Its a very well made documentary looking at the culture shock as well as the implications on the world scope of what this meant, and even how what was considered a stunt when Eisenhower sent up a recording of him wishing everyone on earth a happy holidays in fact technically made that satellite the worlds first communication satellite. Taking this event and laying it over the event of 9-11, although very different inciting incidents they might be, it still orchestrates the same response of fear in our culture. It was also great to see the Russians in this saying "You were afraid of us, and we were just as afraid of you" There was no evil side in the Cold War. There were terrible things done on both sides, but the image of a scheming communist just wasn't so. It was funny and sobering at the same time, maybe the message wasn't intended to do this but it made me feel better and not worry so much.

52 years after it first went into space there is a phenomenal change on earth, I wonder where it will take us tomorrow. A great documentary, concise and smart, dry and with out politics. It also gives Eisenhower his due credit for being a military man who knew the dangers, and even warned us of the American Industrial War Complex, I just wish we had listened to him at the time. I encourage everyone to check out this movie, fill in some historical blanks. 8/10 stars.

Director: David Hoffman

Narrator: Liev Schreiber

If you want to know more about Eisenhower and his wisdom on the whole Industrial War Complex watch "Why We Fight"