By Travis Johnson
For 16 years now the Russian Resurrection Film Festival has been bringing the best cinema that Eastern Europe has to offer, encompassing stories of all genres and moods. This year is no exception,with the first slew of films having been announced today.
Moscow Never Sleeps by Irish filmmaker Johnny O’Reilly, has been compared to the sprawling ensemble works of Robert Altman. The film follows the lives of five people in modern day Moscow whose lives unexpectedly intersect.
Kirill Srebrennikov’s The Student sees a young man become convinced that the world has been lost to evil and begin to lash out at and challenge the authorities and institutions around him.
A smash hit at the Russian box office, Heritage of Love tracks two parallel love stories – one in modern Paris, and one set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war.
Andrey Zaytsev’s 14+ has picked up a bunch of international awards at various film festivals. Inspired by Roy Andersson’s A Swedish Love Story, this teen melodrama follows the exploits of a shy teenager who falls in love with a popular girl.
Oleg Asadulin’s psychological thriller Green Carriage promises twists and turns, while comedy is represented by Very Best Day and the romantic comedy No Borders, which intertwines a number of love stories in various parts of the former USSR.
And there’s more to come! The festival hits Auckland from October 25 – 30, Sydney from October 27 – November 5, Canberra from November 1 – 6, Brisbane from November 2 – 9, Perth from November 10 – 16, and Melbourne from November 10 – 16. For full details, head over to the official site.
