My Step-Brother Frankenstein

Colour, 35 mm
Russia, 2004, 120 min
Section: Official Selection

Synopsis

Physicist Krymov’s calm life is disturbed by the arrival of his alleged son Pavel – a war veteran who has lost an eye. Although Krymov denies paternity, he welcomes the young man and tries to arrange an operation for him. Colonel Timur corroborates Pavel’s identity and portrays him as a hero. In response, the compassionate Krymov hesitates to move Pavel to a military hospital. But at a family dinner Pavel describes climactic scenes of battle in such a way that Dr. Edik, a family friend, warns Krymov: he’s a dyed-in-the-wool fascist. Despite Pavel’s attachment to the family, Krymov goes into action: he sends the intruder home. Pavel returns immediately, however, claiming that he must protect “his” family from the ever-present enemy.

About the director

Valery Todorovsky (b. 1962, Odessa) studied screenwriting at Moscow’s Film School (VGIK) and wrote the scripts for Dmitri Meskhiyev’s Gambrinus, Cynics (Tsiniki), and Over the Dark Water (Nad tyomnoj vodoj). In 1989 he debuted with Catafalque (Katafalk), for which he took the Gold Ducat at the Mannheim IFF. In 1991 Love (Ljubov) followed, screened at the Chicago IFF, and recognized with the Cannes Ecumenical Jury Prize and awards from the European Feature Film Association. In 1994 he filmed a pastiche of Leskov’s Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District – the film Moscow Nights (Podmoskovnye vechera). His two next films were also well received: Land of the Deaf (Strana gluchich, 1997) and the psychological drama The Lover (Ljubovnik, 2002). Valery Todorovsky also works as a producer.