Archive of films Arrhythmia / Aritmiya
Russia / Finland / Germany
2017, 116 min
Section:
Official Selection - Competition
Year: 2017
Oleg is heading for his thirties. He works as a paramedic and, after a hard shift, he likes to take a few swigs. His wife Katya is also a doctor, working in the hospital’s emergency department. But her patience with Oleg is running thin, so she announces one day that she wants a divorce… One of the most intriguing filmmakers on the Russian scene today, Boris Khlebnikov returns to the big screen with a meticulous piece of direction. Along with precise performances from the cast, the film examines a relationship experiencing an arrhythmia similar to that affecting the hearts of the patients Oleg treats in his job as a paramedic.
Synopsis
Oleg is heading for his thirties. He works as a paramedic and, after a hard shift, he likes to take a few swigs. His wife Katya is also a doctor, working in the hospital’s emergency department. But her patience with Oleg is running thin, so she announces one day that she wants a divorce – although they still have to share their poky apartment until Oleg finds a flat. He also discovers there are major changes at his workplace, which certainly don’t make his life any easier… One of the most intriguing directors on the Russian scene today, Boris Khlebnikov here affirms his ability to paint a faithful picture of a specific environment. Though with a certain measure of hyperbole, he nevertheless also demonstrates benevolence and understanding in his portrayal of the dilemmas and emotions of his heroes. With a precise directorial style the filmmaker presents a study of a relationship experiencing an arrhythmia similar to that affecting the hearts of the patients Oleg treats in his ambulance. The film boasts a fine performance from Khlebnikov’s cast regular Alexander Yatsenko, superbly supported by the dazzling Irina Gorbacheva in the role of Katya.
Lenka Tyrpáková
About the director
Boris Khlebnikov (b. 1972, Moscow) took a course in film studies at VGIK. He gave his debut with the internationally successful Roads to Koktebel (Koktebel, 2003, co-dir. Alexey Popogrebsky), which won the Philip Morris Award at KVIFF 2003. His next film, Free Floating (Svobodnoe plavanie, 2006), shown in Venice’s Orizzonti section, earned him Best Director at Kinotavr in Sochi, Best Film from the Russian Guild of Film Critics, and Best Film at the Warsaw IFF; the movie was also presented at KVIFF. His short film Shame (Pozor) was part of the story showcase Short Circuit (Korotkoe zamykanie, 2009), premiered in Orizzonti at the Venice IFF. Help Gone Mad (Sumashedshaya pomoshch, 2009) received its premiere in Berlin’s Forum and, four years later, the director returned to the Berlinale with A Long and Happy Life (Dolgaya schastlivaya zhizn, 2013), this time screened in competition.
Contacts
Indie Sales
32, Rue Washington, 75008, Paris
France
Tel: +33 144 830 227
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.indiesales.eu
About the film
Color, DCP
International premiere
Section: | Official Selection - Competition |
---|---|
Director: | Boris Khlebnikov |
Screenplay: | Natalia Meshchaninova, Boris Khlebnikov |
Dir. of Photography: | Alisher Khamidkhodzhaev |
Editor: | Ivan Lebedev, Yulia Batalova |
Art Director: | Olga Khlebnikova |
Producer: | Ruben Dishdishyan, Sergey Selyanov, Natalia Drozd, Aleksi Hyvärinen, Toni Valla, Eva Blondiau |
Production: | Mars Media Entertainment, CTB Film Company |
Coproduction: | Don Films, Post Control, Color of May |
Cast: | Alexander Yatsenko, Irina Gorbacheva |
Sales: | Indie Sales |
Guests
Boris Khlebnikov
Film Director
Irina Gorbacheva
Actress
Natalia Drozd
Producer
Nataliia Meshchaninova
Screenwriter
Julia Batalova
Film Editor
Martin Gondre
Sales Agent
Clémentine Hugot
Sales Agent
Sitora Alieva
Festival Organizer
Elmar Imanov
Producer
Eva Blondiau
Producer