A Trip to the Moon
Georges Méliès
1902
SYNOPSIS
In this whimsical and pioneering sci-fi adventure, A Trip to the Moon follows a group of eccentric astronomers who launch themselves via a massive cannon to the lunar surface. There, they battle hostile Selenites and make a daring escape back to Earth. Famous for the iconic image of the rocket landing in the Moon’s eye, this theatrical masterpiece showcases Georges Méliès' imaginative special effects and remains a timeless milestone in the history of narrative cinema.
CRITIQUE
Georges Méliès’ masterpiece acts as the Big Bang of sci-fi cinema. Moving beyond mere documentation, he treated film as a canvas for dreams, inventing special effects like stop-motion and double exposure. Its narrative ambition, following astronomers to the lunar surface, proved movies could tell fantastical stories. The iconic image of the rocket in the Moon’s eye remains cinema’s most enduring symbol. This celebration of imagination shifted the medium from scientific curiosity to artistic spectacle, influencing every fantasy film that followed.