The Journey to Callisto

In The Journey to Callisto by Michel Decar, a six-person Russian crew aboard the spaceship Zimodorok I embarks on an expedition to Jupiter’s moon Callisto. The story is set at the beginning of the 22nd century and blends science fiction with existential and absurd elements. The crew, made up of experts in nuclear physics, astrobiology, engineering, geochemistry, and piloting, faces not only scientific challenges but also everyday problems like bureaucratic hurdles, interpersonal conflicts, and the question of life’s meaning.

66 snapshots capture the crew in all their human ridiculousness and tragedy. Decar transposes a bourgeois piece from the year 1900 into the future, creating a pointed reflection on the present. With affectionate, subversive humor, the play explores the absurdity of existence in the infinite cosmos, as the boundaries between science, everyday life, and philosophy blur.