East of the West - Competition 2007 / Užas, kotoryj vsegda s toboj / Russia 2007
The routine co-existence of lecturer Varzumov and philologist Lera is turned upside-down by a commando which, in order to fulfil a secret mission, takes over their flat. The intractability of the situation becomes evident in the strange harmony of the “higher interests” of both the representatives of power and the Church, who introduce a phantasmagorical quality to the fickle nature of social reality.
The psychologist Varzumov and philologist Lera, demoralised by the lax attitude of their students, live near a newly restored church. Their routine co-existence is suddenly turned upside-down by the appearance of a commando which takes over their flat. After futile efforts to expel the intruders from their home, they gradually discover that both lieutenant colonel Nikolai and his three men are decent people. The couple become reconciled with them in the belief that they are all involved in fulfilling the “higher interests” of some kind of mission. Lera resolves this awkward situation through recourse to her faith, of particular relevance since Father Mikhail is well acquainted with the commando. The sensitive intellectual Varzumov starts acting strangely. Fascinated by the machismo of the commando, he dons a military jacket, shaves his head and, after sampling the delights of the Kalashnikov, he renounces his principles and his identity. Does he realise the recklessness of his actions? Or how deceptive the fickle reality of social change can become when bowing to the “higher interests” of both the representatives of power and the Church?
104 min / Color, 35 mm
International premiere
Director Arkadiy Yakhnis
/ Screenplay Jurij Arabov / Yuri Arabov
/ Dir. of Photography Grigorij Jabločnikov / Grigoriy Yablochnikov
/ Music Dmitrij Kachovskij / Dmitry Kakhovsky
/ Editor Nikolaj Stěpanov / Nikolay Stepanov, Alexandr Lucenko / Alexander Lutsenko
/ Producer Fjodor Popov / Fyodor Popov, Ljudmila Kukoba / Lyudmila Kukoba
/ Production Stella Studios
/ Cast Jurij Nifontov / Yuri Nifontov, Marina Iljina / Marina Ilyina, Oleg Fomin
/ Contact Evgenia Tirdatova, Studio "Stella"
www: www.stella-kino.ru
Arkadiy Yakhnis (b. 1952, Belarus) studied at the Moscow Film Academy (1987-1989) and subsequently made the short film The Date (Data, 1990), the documentary Farewell (Proshchaniye, 1992) and the feature film Shoes from America (Botinki iz Ameriky, 2001). He collaborated on the film Horror Which Is Always with You with eminent screenwriter Yuri Arabov.
Evgenia Tirdatova
Krasnopresnenskaya nab. 1/2 - 129, 123100, Moscow
Russia
Phone: +7 495 205 0658, +7 095 916 3216
Fax: +7 495 205 0658, +7 095 916 0107
E-mail: [email protected]
Studio "Stella"
Mosfilmovskaya Str. 1, office 329, 119 992, Moscow
Russia
Phone: +7 495 143 9289
Fax: +7 499 783 0260
E-mail: [email protected]
Evgenia Tirdatova
Festival Organizer, Producer
Arkadiy Yakhnis
Film Director
Fedor Popov
Producer
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