"Der Schweigende Stern" (1960)

Known in English as “First Ship to Venus,” this was the first science fiction film produced in East Germany. Before the days of Star Trek or Doctor Who, the production values and art direction are surprisingly good. But what is more surprising—for this kid raised in the 70s and 80s—is the message.

The story begins in a future, communist world when a meteorite is found that was a part of the Tunguska event. It is discovered that it is not just a meteorite, but part of a ship from Venus. The united world decides to mount a mission to the planet, all the while trying to decipher a message on the fragment and communicate with the intelligence there.

As they approach the planet, they realize that the message was not a message, but instructions to destroy all life on Earth. And, once they are on Venus, they discover that the planet’s civilization has been silent because they have accidentally wiped themselves out with nuclear weapons. They return with a warning for the governments of Earth.

So, storytellers on the soviet side were trying to warn their cultures of the danger of crazy, warmongering leaders as well.