DARK PLANET (2008). Part 1. Russian with English subtitles

DARK PLANET (Russian: Обитаемый остров, romanized: Obitaemyy ostrov, lit. 'The Inhabited Island') is a two-part Russian science fiction film directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk. The film was adapted by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko from the 1969 novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky of the same Russian name, published in English as Prisoners of Power; a part of the Noon Universe series. It is a dystopian story set on post-apocalyptic planet Saraksh, ruled by a totalitarian regime that brainwashes its citizens. Maxim Kammerer, a space explorer from Earth, crash-lands on Saraksh and becomes involved in the planet's broiling politics

PLOT OF PART 1:
Year 2157. Maxim Kammerer (Stepanov), a space explorer from Earth, crash lands on an unknown planet. His ship is destroyed, and now he's stuck there "like Robinson on an uninhabited island" (hence the title). Maxim encounters local military police, who do not believe Maxim is alien and send him to mental hospital in the capital. Guy Gaal (Fyodorov), a corporal of the Guards, is assigned to escort Maxim.

Maxim learns that the name of the planet is Saraksh, and the country where he landed is called Fatherland, because it is ruled by a militaristic dictatorship of the Unknown Fathers. Strider (Serebryakov), a powerful figure in the government, wants to see the newcomer; he sends one of his men, Funk, after Maxim, but as they drive the street, Funk suffers from what seems to be an epileptic seizure, and Maxim is left alone. He encounters Rada Gaal (Snigir), the sister of Guy, falls in love with her and stays with the Gaals. Guy talks Maxim into becoming a privateer ("candidate") in the Guards. They are forced to participate in brutal raids against the people called "degenerates" by state propaganda. After Maxim refuses to execute a group of captured "degenerates", Guards commander Rittmeister Chachu shoots him and leaves him to his apparent death.

However, Maxim survives and joins a group of rebel "degenerates". During his time with the rebels, Maxim learns the true nature of the regime and the purpose of towers erected across the country. Contrary to state propaganda, the towers function as mind control devices, sending a special kind of radiation that ensures the citizens' loyalty to the regime. Twice in a day, the majority of people experience a patriotic frenzy, while minority, the "degenerates", are able to resist brainwashing, but they suffer from intense pain and convulsions. The Unknown Fathers themselves are known to be "degenerates" (this is highlighted by Funk's "epilepsy" earlier). Maxim realises that rebels are hiding the truth just as the government does, in hope that they might use the towers themselves, had they come to power.

After fighting alongside the "degenerates" in the attack on a tower, Maxim is again captured by the military and sentenced to a prison labor camp. There, inmates are tasked with cleaning the wilderness of automated defense systems that were left abandoned by decades of war. On a mission, Maxim manages to capture a mechanized tank. He drives the tank away from detention zone across the minefield, picks up Guy, and heads south to the neighbouring nations.dden treasure and gave directions for the finding of the money and jewels. Following the directions, the butler and the maid locate the hidden fortune, but coming suddenly in possession of such enormous riches, turned the head of this daring woman. The decision was reached in an instant, "I will have it all," and just as the butler handed out the treasure laden box, she allowed the heavy flag stone to crash down upon him. Imprisoning him in this death trap where the treasure had lain for years. When he arrived on the scene. Holmes wanted a clue. By clever grouping of the servants of the household, he flashed the old parchment hearing the ritual and watched their faces. Only the maid recognized the ritual and her startled look gave Holmes his entering wedge. The forcing of a confession from the woman is quickly brought about in most dramatic fashion.

CAST:
Vasiliy Stepanov as Maxim Kammerer (voiced by Maksim Matveyev)
Yuliya Snigir as Rada Gaal
Pyotr Fyodorov as Guy Gaal
Aleksei Serebryakov as Strider aka Rudolf Sikorski
Fyodor Bondarchuk as State prosecutor aka Umnik (Smart One)
Sergey Garmash as Zef
Gosha Kutsenko as Veper
Andrei Merzlikin as Fank
Mikhail Yevlanov as Rittmeister Chachu
Anna Mikhalkova as Ordi Tader
Sergei Barkovsky as Nolle Renadu
Aleksey Gorbunov as Shurin (Brother-in-law (wife's brother))
Maksim Sukhanov as Dad (Russian: Папа, romanized: Papa)
Yuriy Tsurilo as the general
Aleksandr Feklistov as Dever (Brother in law (husband's brother))
Kirill Pirogov as Svyokor (Father in law (husband's father))
Yevgeni Sidikhin as Teste (Father in law (wife's father))
Sergei Mazayev as Voldyr
Leonid Gromov as Gramenau
Vasili Savinov as Lesnik
Vyacheslav Razbegaev as Krysolov
Dimash Akhimov as Behemoth
Ignat Akrachkov as prosecutor's referent
Anton Eskin as Oreshnik

PRODUCTION::
The first three films were released in 1912 and the final five in 1913. This is This film is the only one of the original 8-part series of 1912-1913 to survive.