Cuckoo

Colour, 35mm
Russia, 2002, 100 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

It is September 1944, a few days before the Second World War ends for Finland, which has been fighting on the German side against the Russians. The Finnish sniper Wille, resolved to do whatever is necessary, is planning his escape to freedom. Ivan, a captain in the Soviet army who was arrested and imprisoned by the “Smersh” secret military police, decides to join the Finnish kamikaze. Each man belongs on a different side of the barricade, both were condemned to death, they don’t speak each other’s language, they are arch-enemies but together they find shelter in no-man’s land, on a farm owned by the Laplander Anni. She, however, does not regard them as enemy soldiers, but simply as men.… “Cuckoo” is the nickname the Russians gave Finnish snipers during the 1939-40 war. Despite their inadequate firepower, they still managed to cause the Red Army considerable losses. “Cuckoo” is also the secret name of a woman.…

About the director

Alexander Rogozhkin (b. 1949, Leningrad) first studied history at Leningrad University, then worked at Lenfilm studios while, at the same time, attending the teaching faculty. In 1982 he graduated from Moscow’s VGIK film school having studied under Sergei Gerasimov. He began with shorts, in 1989 winning the Alfred Bauer Award and, a year later, the FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin IFF for The Guard. Filmography includes: The Golden Button (1983), Miss Millionaire (1988), The Third Planet (1990), Security Officer (1991), Life with an Idiot (1992), Peculiarities of the National Hunt (1995) and its loose sequel Peculiarities of National Angling (1998).