Youri, who dreams of being an astronaut, has lived his whole life in Cité Gagarine, a real-life housing project built in the ’60s and named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Youri’s life and that of Cité Gagarine are deeply entwined: The building contains his childhood memories, and the community there is all he has ever known. Following news of its planned demolition, Youri and his friends try to save the building, but residents gradually vacate. All life is soon drained from the edifice, where Youri resolutely remains. In a stunning magical turn, he creates a spaceship within the complex, and floats gently in space.Gagarine is a wildly imaginative exploration of isolation and community—themes that are especially relevant today.
