Forum of Independents - Competition 2009 / Kislorod / Russia 2009
To the rhythm of hip hop, rap and breakbeat, and reflected against the backdrop of a mixed-up world, two young presenters comment on the chaotic film-clip relationship between a boy and a girl, both called Sasha. Life-giving oxygen would sort everything out, but its strength is derived from knowledge of the Word and the laws of the Ten Commandments. Except that no-one understands them anymore…
Based on the director’s own stage play, this film conveys the significance of the Old Testament Word of God, among other things, via film-clip collages. In ten chapters, the filmmaker portrays Russian life and also thematises the Ten Commandments derived from the Word. Two young presenters comment on the text, whose antithesis is embodied in a young couple, a boy and girl, both called Sasha. The performers’ speeches run like parallel monologues resembling both intimate and public confessions. The rhythm of electronic music and the hectic nature of modern life correspond to the uncontrollable stream of words, thoughts and memories. The presenters don’t ask questions, they just point to disturbing aspects of human existence. Physically present, yet essentially alienated, both Sashas blaspheme, break God’s commandments and hurt each other. But without life-giving oxygen – namely, the Word – they will die. And all this to the rhythm of hip hop, rap and breakbeat, reflected against a backdrop of distressing images of today’s Russia, distant wars, indifferent cities and hemp fields…
75 min / Color, 35 mm
International premiere
Director Ivan Vyrypaev
/ Screenplay Ivan Vyrypajev / Ivan Vyrypaev
/ Dir. of Photography Andrej Najďonov / Andrey Naydenov
/ Editor Pavel Hanytin
/ Producer Vadim Gorjajnov / Vadim Goryainov, Leonid Lebeděv / Leonid Lebedev, Valerij Todorovskij / Valery Todorovsky
/ Production Krasnaya Strela – Red Arrow Company
/ Cast Karolina Gruszka, Alexej Filimonov / Alexey Filimonov
/ Contact Krasnaya Strela - Red Arrow Company
www: www.kislorodfilm.ru
Ivan Vyrypaev (b. 1974, Irkutsk) graduated from drama college in Irkutsk (1995) where, after working in Magadan, he was employed as a teacher (1999–2001) and established the drama studio Performance Space (1998). After studying direction in Moscow he worked at the Teatr.doc. Centre for New Drama, and was appointed Artistic Director of Praktika Theatre after 2005. He wrote five plays which were also staged outside his native country, and several screenplays, one of which he chose for his film debut Euphoria (2006), which earned him many awards both at home and abroad. He shot Oxygen (2009) based on his own dramatic work, and his play Valentine’s Day was adapted for the big screen by Svetlana Proskurina (The Best of Times, 2007). He is the author of the book Thirteen Texts Written in the Autumn (13 textov, napisannykh osenyu). He has won a number of theatre awards (Golden Mask) and the Presidential Council Prize for his contribution to Russian literature.
Krasnaya Strela - Red Arrow Company
Krasina Street, Building 7/2, 123056, Moscow
Russia
Phone: +7 495 504 2223
Fax: +7 495 504 2223
E-mail: [email protected]
Ivan Vyrypaev
Film Director
Alexey Filimonov
Actor
Karolina Gruszka
Actress
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