Rating: ****
Verdict: A healthy reminder of just how inspiring the human race can be.
This stellar documentary about the Apollo moon missions evokes a sense of wonder rare in cinema, both fictional and non-fictional.
Surviving astronauts from all nine Apollo moon voyages (1968-72)
speak about their experiences in new interviews interspersed with a wealth of dazzling Nasa film footage.
Included are such famous faces as Buzz Aldrin (the second man to step foot on the moon); Jim Lovell (portrayed by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13) and others lesser-known, but equally as interesting.
As much as In The Shadow of the Moon builds on the mythic status of the moon landings, hearing about them first-hand from the people involved brings the mythology down to earth, so to speak.
These are normal, funny, friendly guys who just happened to go where no human had ever gone before.
They experienced the same fear and excitement as the world watching, and their frank testimony cuts through any cynicism a modern audience might bring.
Neil Armstrong's absence (we see him in archive footage) only adds to his iconic status, and the participants all speak fondly of him.
The film is too classy to acknowledge the crazy conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landings, but stick around during the credits to see the subjects chime in on them.
This movie is a healthy reminder of just how inspiring the human race can be.
Dominic Corry, View magazine, Herald on Sunday
Cast: Buzz Aldrin, Mike Collins, Alan Bean, Jim Lovell, John Young, Edgar Mitchell, Dave Scott
Running time: 100 minute
Screening: Rialto
