issuing the full credit....

2 interesting facets about this film.....

1. - The obvious fact that it influenced the major si-fi films of it's age, namely The original russian Solaris, 2001 and later Alien. This film predates the earliest of these (2001) by 5 years & there are direct visual quotes in all three films. In fact the fundamental story line of each resides in segments here-in. For this reason alone the film aught to be re-released.

2. - The political sub text and prophetic vision of the hope of the Prague Spring that was to come & the momentary communist thaw of the mid to late 60s. The film reads well as a metaphor for a people whose ( enforced) communist ideological aspirations was totally crushed into a long 'sleep' by the black hole of absolute totaliterianism - yet destined to 'awake early' on account of 'being saved' by an ephemeral benevolent force who will in the future 'discover them' & 'hear their real voices'. Could it be so clearly stated ?