Am I doing something wrong? Probably. I’m usually doing something wrong.
But at the moment, all I’m trying to do is promote film, particularly Russian film, yet no one wants to tell me about their lovely new Russian film festivals until it’s almost too late. Guys! I can help! I really can! Just let me know that you’re doing a Russian film festival and I’ll tell everyone else! I might even buy tickets and turn up!
The BFI was the previous “let’s not tell the Russian film girl about our Russian film festival” culprit, just before Christmas. Now it’s the Institut Français who’ve taken against me. To be honest, scanning their web site, they don’t seem to want to publicise it very much at all, so maybe it’s not personal — I actually found out about it through Russian Art & Culture. Maybe I’m being just a little bit paranoid? What do you think?
Anyway, I’ve got you intrigued now, haven’t I? Want to know more about it? I do hope so.
Soviet 60s: A Turning Point in Cinema
This will be a monthly film series at the Ciné Lumière (in association with Russian language film charity Kino Klassika) that runs from 18 January to 30 June and that spotlights “a selection of films from the decade that changed both cinema and the world: from beloved Soviet comedies to rarely-screened New Wave classics”.
Here’s the programme
After the jump, I’ll give you full details of all the films, as well as trailers and even a short TV programme about one of them. As you can probably guess, the trailers are all in Russian (and there’s an even an Armenian one!) so you might have to turn auto subtitles on.
PROGRAMME
18 January 2022, 6pm
(Берегись автомобиля) Beware of the Car, Eldar Ryazanov, 1966
Introduced by Season Curator Dr Sam Goff
Unassuming insurance agent Yuri Detochkin leads a double life as a daring car thief in this iconic caper. Frustrated with the corruption and lassitude of the Soviet elite, Detochkin plays Robin Hood, stealing cars and donating the proceeds from their sales to orphanages. One of the most popular films in Soviet history Beware of the Car blends sharp satire with affectionate nods to various cinematic traditions, from film noir to the silent comedies of Lloyd and Keaton.
15 February 2022, 6pm
Девять дней одного года (Nine Days in One Year), Mikhail Romm, 1962
Two young scientists are exploring new fields of nuclear physics. Dmitry Gusev and Ilya Kulikov are good friends, but rivals in love. Dmitry marries Lyolya and they live happily together. Luck has it that he makes an important discovery. Unfortunately he exposes himself to radioactivity during the experiments. As a result he falls seriously ill. However Dmitry has a strong spirit. His will to live, the deep passion for his work and his strong love for mankind makes it possible for him to recover.
15 March 2022, 6.20pm
Крылья (Wings), Larisa Shepitko, 1966
A fascinating and human portrayal of a once-famous fighter pilot and loyal Stalinist named Nadezhda Petrovna. Now a 41-year-old provincial schoolmistress, she has so internalized the military ideas of service and obedience that she cannot adjust to life in peacetime.
April 2022
Я шагаю по Москве (Walking the Streets of Moscow), Georgii Daneliya, 1964
Young Siberian writer Volodya meets Kolya in the Moscow metro in his visit to a famous author. Volodya and Kolya’s friend Sasha adventure their love interests in their own way, while Kolya sets out to help them.
May 2022
We and Our Mountains*, Henrik Malyan, 1969
Four shepherds, living in the Armenian highlands, cut a stray sheep for a dinner. Revaz, their neighbour and owner of the sheep, soon appears. Shephards even manage to agree on “ransom” but novice police lieutenant interferes with the deal trying to start an official investigation.
* Sorry – I don’t do Armenian!
June 2022
Июльский дождь (July Rain), Marlen Khutsiev, 1967
Lena is about to marry when she finds out her fiancé is a bad person. After leaving him, she seeks for a sense in her life through adventures with artists who are also searching their own identity. When raining, she meets Zhenya.
