“When we are children, all we ever ask is ‘Why?’ When we grow up, we realise what we really meant was ‘How?’”

For anyone who ever doubted that technology could contain philosophy, that physics could be metaphorical poetry, that science is the closest force to magic that we will ever know: watch The Farthest. Emer Reynolds’ documentary about the first spacecraft to ever leave the solar system isn’t just a fascinating tale about space exploration. It’s also a tender, funny and truly inspiring examination of humanity’s cosmic insignificance – and the curiosity and ambition that drives us to say, ‘Let’s make our time count and go exploring, then.’

The story of the Voyager is told from its initial conception to its ongoing, perhaps never-ending journey. Reynolds interviews a dozen members from the original Voyager team, who provide not only digestible information about the challenge of this almost unimaginable mission, but an emotional snapshot of who we were then – and now.

4/5

Directed by Emer Reynolds. Featuring John Casani, Frank Bagenal, Andrew Ingersoll, In cinemas now