Together

Colour, DIGIBETA
Russia, Switzerland, 2010, 52 min
IP – International premiere
Section: Documentary Films in Competition

Synopsis

In his latest picture, Russian director Pavel Kostomarov, co-creator of the award-winning documentary The Mother (screened at Karlovy Vary in 2008), introduces a loving relationship between a married couple with artistic leanings. Lyudmila and Vladimir have lived and worked together for decades. Set apart from the surrounding world, their small house is filled with their drawings and wooden sculptures inspired by Celtic art and reminiscent of the works of these natural people. The artwork even has its own room in the house, which the couple regularly visit with emotions bordering on religious awe. Kostomarov’s film reveals an exceptional feeling for the poetic, sometimes almost lyrical, portrayal of what appears to be everyday life. With the help of sensitive camerawork, the director manages to imbue the cheerful story of Vladimir’s bohemian youth and shots of Lyudmila’s solicitous care for her beloved husband with an uncommonly intimate atmosphere, thus offering the viewer a documentary poem about one possible form of eternal love.

About the director

Pavel Kostomarov (b. 1975, Moscow) graduated in 2003 from Moscow’s VGIK as a director of photography. He has stood behind the lens on the films of Sergei Loznitsa, Victor Asliuk, Aleksei Uchitel, and Alexei Popogrebsky. He currently lives in both Moscow and St Petersburg. Filmography: The Transformer (2003 – Best Documentary at the Tampere Short IFF, among others), Life in Peace (2004 – Silver Dove at the Leipzig IFF, Silver Dragon for Best Documentary at the 45th Cracow FF, among others), The Mother (2007 – Eurodoc 2008 Prize for Best European Documentary at the Seville festival, screened in the doc competition at KVIFF 2008). At KVIFF 2001 he received Special Mention for his camerwork on Loznitsa’s The Settlement, and a Silver Bear at this year’s Berlinale for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for the camera on How I Ended This Summer (presented in the Horizons section).