Yuri Gagarin was a Russian cosmonaut and a gem within the Soviet Communist Party, for in 1961 he became the first man ever to enter space. Named in his honour, the Cité Gagarine housing project was built in Ivry-sur-Seine by the Communist Party of France, and later inaugurated by Yuri Gagarin himself in 1963.

This historical context sets up the plot of our magical-realist Gagarine (2020), adapted from the 2015 short film by dynamic directing duo Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh. Our film begins with a reel of footage from the aforementioned inauguration, and directly after we are shown stunning cinematography of this very housing project more than 50 years later. These magnificent shots are only a hint of what’s to come, with cinematographer Victor Seguin loudly demanding your utterly captivated gaze throughout the entire duration of the film’s runtime.

This apartment block is where we meet 16-year-old Yuri (Alseni Bathily), named after the same cosmonaut as his home, who has discovered plans to demolish the housing project he and all of his friends (who are more like family) occupy together. He and these friends now vow to save their ‘starship’ from such a demise, despite the fact that the only thing each one of them dreams of is one day leaving to pursue greater things. The acting is formidable on all accounts, yet particularly when it comes to our lead Bathily, who rightfully won an award for his performance at the 2020 Seville European Film Festival. 

Although there is a minor lack of narrative structure, this will actually be seen as a benefit to most audiences as it functions well within the dream-like aesthetic of the rest of the film. The characters’ heartwarming tale as they spend their days tirelessly fixing-up the decrepit architecture, whilst imagining the lives they might lead should they one day manage to escape its walls, allows for a fascinating juxtaposition between the needs of today versus the desires of tomorrow. This paradoxical balance of internal and external conflict is the bold driving force behind the entire film, and combined with the awe-inspiring visuals alongside the excellent performances from all of the cast results in a captivating and emotionally poignant viewing experience for anyone. I doubt I’ll be free of its impact for quite some time.

Gagarine is available to watch on March 9 at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.