Dive into the newly restored Soviet sci-fi cult classic, Per Aspera Ad Astra (1981), directed by Richard Viktorov. This visually stunning film is a hidden gem of Soviet cinema, blending cosmic wonder with sharp commentary on humanity’s darker side. Written by famed author Kir Bulychyov, the movie features Elena Metyolkina in an iconic role as Niya, a cyborg from the planet Dessa. As she seeks Earth's help to save her dying homeworld, the film tackles themes of environmental destruction caused by human colonization—eerily reminiscent of real-life disasters like Chornobyl and the Aral Sea.