The film describes the history of space exploration in the USSR from the 1920s to the 1960s, tells about the origin, formation and development of Soviet rocket science - from the first test launches of homemade rockets (Jet Propulsion Research Group) to the creation of ultra-long-range, modern rockets and to the first human flight into space. The creators of the film focus on the fate of Andrei Bashkirtsev, the chief designer who devoted his life to the realization of a great dream - space exploration. Kirill Lavrov brilliantly performed this role, and the collective image of Bashkirtsev for many years was associated with the name of Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, the founder of the Soviet rocket and space program, whose 115th birthday we celebrate this year.
In Taming of the Fire, the veil of secrecy over the rocket and space industry of the USSR was opened for the first time. Under the fictitious names of the heroes of the film, the names of the designers of rockets and rocket technology, which were classified at that time, were hidden. Filming took place in 1970-71 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, in the Cosmonauts' Star City, as well as in the Kremlin with the participation of leading Moscow and Leningrad actors.
Besides Kirill Lavrov, Igor Vladimirov, Zinovy Gerdt, Ada Rogovtseva, Igor Gorbachev, Andrey Popov, Vsevolod Safonov, Vera Kuznetsova, Evgeny Matveev, Vadim Spiridonov, Evgeny Steblov and others took part in the film. The role of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky is played by the brilliant Innokenty Smoktunovsky.
In 1974, the film was awarded the State Prize of the RSFSR named after the Vasiliev brothers.
Strong characters, selfless devotion to the dream, costly failures and amazing breakthroughs - the film is worth watching on the big screen today, and once again touch upon the great past of our country.