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 Russian Resurrection 2012
Russian Film Festival
Palace Centro
39 James St
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane
Sept 7-16
A $17.50 Conc $14
Open Night $45
5 Film Pass $75
www.palacecinemas.com.au
The biggest festival of Russian cinema to venture outside of Russia lands in Brisbane for ten days, bringing with it 25 of its best contemporary national films across the genres of thriller, comedy, drama, art house, animation, rom com and a couple of intriguing retrospectives. Whilst riding the post-communist wave of creativity, many of the films still draw on the pre-glasnost era for inspiration and this year's festival also comes with historical baggage as 2012 commemorates the bicentenary of Russia's 1812 defeat of Napoleon and 70 years of Australia-Russia diplomatic relations.
Highlights of the festival include:
Spy
The opening night film by director Alexey Andrionov is based on the popular Boris Akunin spy novel of the same name, set in a utopian Moscow of autumn 1941 with a looming deadly battle between two secret services. Unfolding are the usual thriller twists, with helpings of comedy and suspense and all played out it in a steam punk futuristic setting. (The premiere is followed by a traditional Russian afterparty with vodka shots and cocktails, dancing, delicacies, canapés and music). Also on Wed 12 7pm.
Cinderella Part of the old world of Russian film making this 1947 depiction of the classic fairy tale, an enchanting piece of quaint cinema for all the family, was remastered and colourised by Mosfilm in 1967. Sun 9 12.30.
Ivan & The Grey Wolf
The highest grossing Russian animation to hit the Russian box office, this film by the producers of the wildly popular animation series of epic Russian heroes, combines Russian folklore modern popular culture and slapstick humour, in a tale involving a princess, a king, a wannabe fireman and a ferocious talking wolf. Another one for all ages. Sun 9 2.30.
The Admirer Based loosely on the story of Chekhov, the film, by veteran director Vitaly Melnikov, focusses on the 18th century literary great through the eyes of a woman Lidia Avilova, one of his love interests in real life and a writer of stories in the popular press. And in inimitable Russian style this is a great love story about a love that never was. Mon 10 6.45.
There Once Lived a Simple Woman
A gripping historical drama depicting man's inhumanity to man and set in Russia's darkest period, when World War I, the revolution, famine and civil war destroyed the Russian village and the lives of the peasants who lived there. This 2011 NIKA award-winning film tells the story via the life, loves and tragic fate of simple village woman Varvara. Mon 10 8.45.
War and Peace The epic adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace won director Sergei Bondarchuk the 1967 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and now it has been resurrected for the last day of the festival. Viewers will need to bring a dose of patience, sustenance and comfy wear for this one though as it goes for a marathon 7 hours. Sun 16 12-7.
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