An evocative documentary about the creative genius Eugen Semitjov (1923-1987) and his fascinating background. Eugen was a celebrity in his time, a successful and innovative comic book artist, reporter, author, and illustrator, specializing in the subject of outer space.
The documentary unfolds along two parallel time-lines: the future, where we get to witness a grand space vision created by Eugen, and the past, which begins with his father, Vladimir, struggling to survive as a refugee in a foreign country: Sweden.
It is a thought-provoking cinematic tapestry that spans beyond time and space, reflecting the struggles and creativity of two generations against humanity's greatest adventure ever: the conquest of space.
In 1923, the Semitjov family arrived in Sweden as refugees from the Soviet Union, without food or money. Father Vladimir, his heavily pregnant wife, their two sons, and his elderly mother came to Stockholm, where the third son, Eugen, was born later that year. Swedish culture would later receive a significant boost from this immigrant family!
The father Vladimir Semitjov became an incredibly productive and appreciated short story writer, as well as the most significant Swedish science fiction author of the interwar period. He also helped Mauritz Stiller ignite one of the biggest movie stars of all time: Greta Garbo!
The eldest son, Volodja Semitjov, served as a war correspondent during World War II and later became a successful screenwriter. He wrote, among other works, the script for the Swedish feature film that has been watched by the most people globally in history: "One Summer Of Happiness" (1951), the film that coined the term "Swedish sin."
The youngest son, Eugen Semitjov, created the science fiction comic strip "Allan Kämpe" in 1942, which remains the most-read Swedish adventure strip internationally. He then transitioned to space reporting and traveled many times around the world. He interviewed astronauts, cosmonauts, and space researchers; he visited rocket bases, research laboratories, and observatories - experiences that resulted in numerous original, imaginative, and visionary newspaper articles, books, and even TV programs. In 1972, Eugen was awarded the prestigious "Stora Journalistpriset" (Great Journalist Prize) in Sweden.
Filmmaker Micke Engström has created a multifaceted feature-length documentary about Eugen Semitjov, one of his childhood idols. He previously made a documentary about the horror artist Hans Arnold, another source of inspiration from his childhood ("Hans Arnold - Penselns Häxmästare," 2019).
In "Semitjov - Dreams for a Better World" several well-known voices participate, including Stina Ekblad (Fanny and Alexander), Shebly Niavarani (Real Humans), Per Ragnar (Let the Right One In), Tomas Laustiola (Hassel), and Nina Stemme (who has been named the world's best opera singer multiple times).
The documentary unfolds along two parallel time-lines: the future, where we get to witness a grand space vision created by Eugen, and the past, which begins with his father, Vladimir, struggling to survive as a refugee in a foreign country: Sweden.
It is a thought-provoking cinematic tapestry that spans beyond time and space, reflecting the struggles and creativity of two generations against humanity's greatest adventure ever: the conquest of space.
In 1923, the Semitjov family arrived in Sweden as refugees from the Soviet Union, without food or money. Father Vladimir, his heavily pregnant wife, their two sons, and his elderly mother came to Stockholm, where the third son, Eugen, was born later that year. Swedish culture would later receive a significant boost from this immigrant family!
The father Vladimir Semitjov became an incredibly productive and appreciated short story writer, as well as the most significant Swedish science fiction author of the interwar period. He also helped Mauritz Stiller ignite one of the biggest movie stars of all time: Greta Garbo!
The eldest son, Volodja Semitjov, served as a war correspondent during World War II and later became a successful screenwriter. He wrote, among other works, the script for the Swedish feature film that has been watched by the most people globally in history: "One Summer Of Happiness" (1951), the film that coined the term "Swedish sin."
The youngest son, Eugen Semitjov, created the science fiction comic strip "Allan Kämpe" in 1942, which remains the most-read Swedish adventure strip internationally. He then transitioned to space reporting and traveled many times around the world. He interviewed astronauts, cosmonauts, and space researchers; he visited rocket bases, research laboratories, and observatories - experiences that resulted in numerous original, imaginative, and visionary newspaper articles, books, and even TV programs. In 1972, Eugen was awarded the prestigious "Stora Journalistpriset" (Great Journalist Prize) in Sweden.
Filmmaker Micke Engström has created a multifaceted feature-length documentary about Eugen Semitjov, one of his childhood idols. He previously made a documentary about the horror artist Hans Arnold, another source of inspiration from his childhood ("Hans Arnold - Penselns Häxmästare," 2019).
In "Semitjov - Dreams for a Better World" several well-known voices participate, including Stina Ekblad (Fanny and Alexander), Shebly Niavarani (Real Humans), Per Ragnar (Let the Right One In), Tomas Laustiola (Hassel), and Nina Stemme (who has been named the world's best opera singer multiple times).
Filmen om det kreativa geniet Eugen Semitjov (1923-1987) utspelar sig längs två parallella tidslinjer: FRAMTIDEN - en storslagen rymdresa skriven av Eugen; och DAGBOKEN, som börjar 1923 då familjen Semitjov anländer till Sverige som flyktingar från Sovjetunionen, utan mat eller pengar.
Fadern Vladimir blev snart en extremt produktiv och uppskattad novellförfattare, och den mest betydande svenska sci-fi-författaren under mellankrigstiden. Han hjälpte också till att tända en av tidernas största filmstjärnor: Greta Garbo!
Äldste sonen, Volodja, blev krigskorrespondent under andra världskriget och sedan en framgångsrik manusförfattare. Inte minst med manuset till den svenska långfilm som setts av flest människor globalt i historien: "Hon dansade en sommar" (1951), filmen som myntade begreppet "svensk synd".
Den yngste sonen, Eugen, föddes några månader efter ankomsten till Sverige. Han skapade den tecknade serien "Allan Kämpe" 1942, som än idag är den mest lästa svenska äventyrsserien internationellt. Han övergick sedan till att bli en globetrottande rymdreporter. Vilket resulterade i en stor mängd tankeväckande och visionära artiklar, böcker och även TV-program. Allt fantasieggande illustrerat med egna teckningar och målningar. Eugen Semitjov tilldelades "Stora Journalistpriset" 1972.
Filmen speglar två generationers kreativitet och kamp, mot en bakgrund av mänsklighetens största äventyr någonsin: erövringen av rymden.
Fadern Vladimir blev snart en extremt produktiv och uppskattad novellförfattare, och den mest betydande svenska sci-fi-författaren under mellankrigstiden. Han hjälpte också till att tända en av tidernas största filmstjärnor: Greta Garbo!
Äldste sonen, Volodja, blev krigskorrespondent under andra världskriget och sedan en framgångsrik manusförfattare. Inte minst med manuset till den svenska långfilm som setts av flest människor globalt i historien: "Hon dansade en sommar" (1951), filmen som myntade begreppet "svensk synd".
Den yngste sonen, Eugen, föddes några månader efter ankomsten till Sverige. Han skapade den tecknade serien "Allan Kämpe" 1942, som än idag är den mest lästa svenska äventyrsserien internationellt. Han övergick sedan till att bli en globetrottande rymdreporter. Vilket resulterade i en stor mängd tankeväckande och visionära artiklar, böcker och även TV-program. Allt fantasieggande illustrerat med egna teckningar och målningar. Eugen Semitjov tilldelades "Stora Journalistpriset" 1972.
Filmen speglar två generationers kreativitet och kamp, mot en bakgrund av mänsklighetens största äventyr någonsin: erövringen av rymden.
