Culture
2025/9/12
source: International Daily
Print
China's first space documentary, filmed in 8K ultra-high-definition cameras by its astronauts, premiered in theaters on Friday.
The film offers an awe-inspiring spectacle that rivals the visual grandeur of "2001: A Space Odyssey," all captured in real life.
The "SHENZHOU 13," or "Blue Planet Outside the Window," chronicles the Shenzhou-13 mission featuring China's first six-month manned space station stay and the first spacewalk by a Chinese female astronaut.
Largely told by Wang Yaping, the country's first female astronaut venturing on a mission to the space station, the documentary offers unprecedented, spectacular views of our planet from about 400 kilometers above and gives intimate glimpses into life aboard the station.
The 90-minute film employs a straightforward narrative style to tell the story of the astronaut trio -- Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu.
It depicts their experiences in space, including conducting experiments, going on spacewalks, exercising, getting haircuts, playing musical instruments, celebrating the New Year, giving lectures, and filming 8K footage.
In the film's closing moments, Wang narrates: "The story of Shenzhou-13 is drawing to a close, but the story of China's space station is just beginning."
The Shenzhou-13 mission sent three astronauts to China's space station core module on Oct. 16, 2021, and returned to Earth on April 16, 2022.
The professional filming equipment was delivered to the space station via the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft.