Dark Side of the Moon
When there is no wind on the moon, how can the flag flutter? During an interview with Stanley Kubrick’s widow, an extraordinary story came to light. She claims Kubrick and other Hollywood producers were recruited to help the United States win the high-stakes race to the moon.
To publicly fund the space program, the U.S. government needs huge popular support, which means it cannot afford a costly PR failure. President Nixon was concerned that live footage of the first moon landing would not be aired, so he called in the creative efforts of Kubrick, whose 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) provided much of the inspiration to ensure the publicity opportunity was not missed .
In return, Kubrick received a special NASA lens that helped him film Barry Lyndon (1975). The Dark Side of the Moon is a deft mix of fact, fiction and assumptions surrounding the first moon landing, showing how image manipulation can distort truth.
Using “hijacked” archival footage, falsified documents, authentic interviews taken out of context or converted via voice-over or dubbing, staged interviews, and interviews with astronauts like Buzz Aldrin, The Dark Side of the Moon takes the world through lies and truth; fact and fiction. This is no ordinary document. It should inform and entertain viewers, but it should also change it – make them aware that television should always be viewed critically.
Directed by: William Karel
