Several movies will be flying the flag for Russia at the Cannes Film Festival’s two main programs, ‘Competition’ and ‘Un Certain Regard’. Three of them have been made by cutting-edge Russian directors.
AFP
“It’s a great comfort to know that as many as three full-length feature films, shot by Russian directors, will premiere at Cannes,” says Joël Chapron, an internationally renowned expert on Russian film and adviser for the Cannes Film Festival for 25 years. “The last time it happened was [in] 2007, when ‘The Banishment’ by Andrei Zvyagintsev, ‘Alexandra’ by Aleksandr Sokurov and ‘Rebellion. The Litvinenko Case’ by Andrei Nekrasov were presented in Cannes.”
“The Russian films that will be unveiled at this year’s festival do a great job of describing modern Russian society,” Chapron notes.
1. ‘Petrov’s Flu’
All happy families are alike, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, Leo Tolstoy believed. And yet, the Petrovs are, at best, a double-edge sword, as their unhappiness is a delusional flight of fantasy.
Kirill Serebrennikov/Kiniprime Foundation, 2021
Petrov is a car mechanic and his ex-wife is a librarian. They are divorced, but still live together with their son, a primary school student. Petrov, who is approaching his thirties, is on a trolleybus on the way home from work when he feels feverish. Shortly after he finds himself in a… hearse, where he drinks a lot of vodka with a casual acquaintance. After that, he continues to drink in the company of a philosophy professor. After downing shot after shot after shot, Petrov finally gets home, where his ex-wife and his son are waiting for him, all down with the flu. It would prove to be a life-altering experience for all of them.
The movie from acclaimed Russian stage and screen director Kirill Serebrennikov is in the running for the Palme d’Or at the 74th Cannes Film Festival. In ‘Petrov’s Flu’, Serebrennikov fiddles with different genres as masterfully as circus artists walk on stilts simultaneously swallowing fire. The movie is a mix of reality and imagination starring Semyon Serzin, Chulpan Khamatova, Yulia Peresild and Yuri Kolokolnikov (whose credits boast the ‘Game Of Thrones’ series.)
‘Petrov’s Flu’ is based on the famous novel ‘The Petrovs In And Around Flu’ by Aleksei Salnikov, which saw the light of day in 2016, winning a number of awards.
“It’s an attempt to describe our motherland through empathy, and to depict my childhood, fears and joys, love and hatred, rage and adoration, loneliness and dreams. I wanted this film to have a lot of sensuality, a lot of love. <...> This piece of cinema is absolutely sincere and honest,” the director said.
It will be Serebrennikov’s third flick to premiere in Cannes. His rock’n’roll saga ‘Leto’ was vying for the Golden Palm in 2018 and ‘The Student’ drama played in ‘Un Certain Regard’ in 2016.
2. ‘Compartment No. 6’
A Finnish student takes a train from Moscow to Murmansk in an effort to escape from her mysterious admirer. As fate would have it, the runaway girl has to share a compartment with a somber Russian miner. All of a sudden, this unwanted scenario helps both passengers soothe their loneliness.
Juho Kuosmanen/Achtung Panda! Media, 2021
‘Compartment No. 6’ is a Finnish-German-Estonian-Russian co-production set in the late 1990s. Leading Russian producers, screenwriters and actors worked on the movie, including veteran producer Sergei Selyanov (‘Brother’ and ‘Brother 2’) and Yuri Borisov, the star of the ‘Mikhail Kalashnikov’ biopic. ‘Compartment No.6’ is directed by Juho Kuosmanen, whose debut, ‘The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki’, won the main prize in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ program at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
READ MORE: Unraveling the cult behind Russia’s ‘Brat’ franchise
Kuosmanen filmed his Russian-language movie in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Murmansk, Petrozavodsk and the village of Teriberka, where Andrei Zvyagintsev’s ‘Leviathan’ was shot.
‘Compartment No. 6’ was created with the support of Russia’s Ministry of Culture. “We are very pleased that the film entered the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival. It’s reassuring to know that this is the first bright result of the ministry’s 2019 minority co-production competition,” Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said.
3. ‘House Arrest’
The drama tells the story of a middle-aged university professor, who is fighting for his ideals of social justice and for life itself. The protagonist takes to social media to voice criticism of local authorities, but soon finds himself under house arrest. He feels as if he is fighting a losing battle.
Aleksei German Jr./Меtrafilms, 2020
‘House Arrest’ stars Merab Nindze, Anna Mikhalkova, Rosa Khairullina, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Alexander Pal and Alexandra Bortich.
Meanwhile, the film’s director, Aleksei German Jr., is a festival veteran. His drama ‘Paper Soldier’ won Venice’s best director award, his film ‘Dovlatov’ took Berlin’s 2018 Silver Bear for outstanding artistic contribution, while his drama ‘Under Electric Clouds’ scooped Berlin’s Silver Bear for outstanding artistic contribution in 2015.
‘House Arrest’ will have its world premiere in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ program, reserved for up-and-coming and experimental filmmakers.
“For me, this is an experiment, because the movie was filmed just on one location, so getting to the Cannes Film Festival is a source of pride,” Aleksei German Jr. said.
It’s a low-key movie with big ambitions.
“By and large, this movie is our declaration of love to the great Russian literature - my beloved Gogol, Griboyedov and Dostoevsky. For me, the topic of respect and responsibility of a citizen before his country is very important. Our main hero is fighting for, as it seems to him, a better future, for justice.”
4. ‘Unclenching The Fists’
Zaur is a helicopter parent who hovers 24/7 and his children are fed up with their father’s fanatic overprotection. The family lives in the village of Mizur, high in the mountains of North Ossetia, and when an opportunity to escape arises, Zaur’s eldest son, Akim, flees to the nearest large city of Rostov-on-Don to look for work. His youngest brother Dakko is still fairly clueless about life, while his only daughter, Ada, is also actively making plans to escape from her father’s custody, in the search for freedom.
Kira Kovalenko/Non-stop Production, 2021
“The first impetus for creating this story was a catchphrase from [William] Faulkner’s novel ‘Intruder in the Dust’ that very few of us can withstand slavery, but no one can withstand freedom,” Kovalenko said. Her film is among the highlights of the ‘Un Certain Regard’ program.
Kira is a student of Aleksandr Sokurov, a master of cinema of the darkest corners of human existence. Her debut movie ‘Sofichka’, based on the story of the same name by Fazil Iskander, was showcased at the 2016 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
‘Unclenching The Fists’ is produced by Aleksandr Rodnyansky, whose credits include Andrei Zvyagintsev’s award-winning ‘Elena’, Oscar-nominated ‘Leviathan’ and ‘Loveless’ and Kantemir Balagov’s ‘Closeness’ and ‘Beanpole’ (which won the ‘Un Certain Regard’ Best Director Award at Cannes in 2019.)
READ MORE: Who is Kantemir Balagov, the Russian filmmaker to direct ‘Last of Us’ screen adaptation?
According to Rodnyansky, ‘Unclenching The Fists’ is a “bold and unexpectedly mature work that combines a deep understanding of human psychology and the obvious artistic talent of the author. The movie is also unusual in that it puts the spotlight on North Ossetia, previously unexplored in cinematography and until recently a terra incognita”.
5. ‘White Road!’
This mystical drama follows a man who is trying to find his missing mother in the Kalmyk steppe. When he finally finds her, they go on a metaphysical journey they never had time for during her life. “It’s a modern myth that will be understandable to everyone who has experienced a loss not only of their loved ones, but also of the inner part of oneself,” Manzheeva was quoted as saying.
Valery Matytsin/ТASS
‘White Road!’ is a project seven years in the making. Director Manzheeva and her producers, Elena Glikman and Victoria Lupik, hope to find additional funding at Cannes and finally kick the project into high gear, with shooting scheduled for September.
“We have Russia’s Culture Ministry support and have found Mongolian and French co-producers. Now we need to find a sales agent and a distributor. We hope that participation in the Cinéfondation Atelier program will allow us to achieve these goals,” Lupik said.
L’Atelier gives filmmakers from across the globe a chance to build contacts with film professionals and find funding for their movies. It picks around fifteen feature length projects and invites their directors to the Cannes Film Festival, where they can boost the production process through new contacts and networks.
A Russian movie has been selected for the Atelier program for the first time in 15 years.
6. ‘Under the Pillow’
It’s a multiformat one-stop entertainment project that encourages children to “explore the magical world under the pillow of an old sofa”.
Georgy Molodtsov/Mormotik Studio, 2021
‘Under the Pillow’ puts ‘Mormitten’ under the spotlight, a handmade kitten-like toy poised to become your kid’s new best friend.
It’s a “universal story about family values” likely to appeal to kids of all ages, as well as adults. ‘Under the Pillow’ basically kills two birds with one stone, because it’s an interactive VR and an animation series, available in both English and Russian.
Lovers of animation will have a chance to watch ‘Under the Pillow’ at the Marche du Film, a global mecca for film industry professionals held in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival.
READ MORE:How the ‘Russian Arm’ took the movie industry by storm
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FAQs
Is there any good Russian movies? ›
- # 25. HAMLET. Grigori Kozintsev 1964.
- # 26. ANDREI RUBLEV. Andrei Tarkovsky 1966.
- # 27. JULY RAIN. Marlen Khutsiev 1967.
- # 28. BRIEF ENCOUNTERS. Kira Muratova 1967.
- # 29. THE COMMISSAR. Aleksandr Askoldov 1967.
- # 30. MONOLOG. Ilya Averbakh 1972.
- # 31. THE MIRROR. Andrei Tarkovsky 1975.
- # 32. ONE HUNDRED DAYS AFTER CHILDHOOD.
First held in 1946 for the recognition of artistic achievement, the festival came to provide a rendezvous for those interested in the art and influence of the movies. Like other film festivals, it became an international marketplace where producers and distributors could exchange ideas, view films, and sign contracts.
Are there any Russian movies on Netflix? ›Watching Russian Movies On Netflix
And if you haven't done this before, don't stress – it's easy. In the Netflix search bar, type in 'Russian movies' and everything available should come up. (Some options will be English shows about Russia – just ignore those.) You can also simply search for a specific movie title.
Screening out of competition
Some festivals, such as the famous Cannes Film Festival, may screen films that are considered close to competition-quality without being included in the competition; the films are said to be screened "out of competition".
- Battleship Potemkin (1925) Image Source: britannica.com. ...
- Man With A Movie Camera (1929) Image Source: ft.com. ...
- Earth (1930) Image Source: IMDb.com. ...
- The Cranes Are Flying (1957) ...
- Ballad of a Soldier (1959) ...
- Hamlet (1964) ...
- War and Peace (1965) ...
- Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)
- Бедная Настя (Poor Nastya) This historical telenovela has been broadcasted in 34 countries of the world. ...
- Брат (Brother) ...
- Достоевский (Dostoyevsky) ...
- А́нна Каре́нина (Anna Karenina) ...
- Кухня (Kitchen) ...
- Екатерина (Catherine) ...
- Анжелика (Angelica)
...
Five great websites for watching Russian films or TV online
- Klassiki. ...
- Russian Film Hub. ...
- Netflix. ...
- Smotrim (Смотрим) ...
- YouTube.
- Russian Film Hub. A great website to watch hundreds of Russian movies with foreign subtitles. ...
- Советские movies. ...
- zFilm-HD.org. ...
- Star Media. ...
- Mosfilm cinema concern. ...
- Odesa Film Studio. ...
- RusFilmES. ...
- НТВ
Browse the full list of Russian movies and TV shows streaming on Hulu.
Can regular people go to Cannes Film Festival? ›The Festival de Cannes is exclusively reserved to film industry professionals. It is not necessary to register with the Festival if you make your request through the Marché du Film, as the Market badge includes all Festival participation rights and access to screenings (https://www.marchedufilm.com/accreditation/).
Is Cannes Film Festival hard to get into? ›
Cannes is unique amongst A-list film festivals in that it's an event largely reserved for film industry professionals and the press. Accreditation, screenings, and entry to official venues is tightly controlled, with the vast majority of the festival off-limits to the general public.
How do people get invited to Cannes? ›- Comply with the Preselection Conditions.
- Fill out the online Entry Form.
- Upload your film online (for short films)
- Send your film (for feature films) to the address indicated at the bottom of the Entry Form.
- If your film is selected, you must comply with the Festival's Rules and Regulations.
Cannes Film Festival Submissions
Cannes Film Festival actually has first, second, and third late fees associated with festival submissions. The cost to enter the Cannes Film Festival will run: Between $50 and $450.
The capital of cinema is known worldwide for its trade fairs but also for its prestigious luxury hotels (Le Martinez, le Carlton...) frequented by film stars and other wealthy tourists. Cannes, it is the famous Palais des Festivals which rolls out the red carpet every year for the stars of world cinema.
Why do celebrities go to Cannes Film Festival? ›Cannes is known for its glamorous celebrity image where movie fans can catch a glimpse of high-profile stars as they walk the Promenade de la Croisette. The custom design outfits that the celebrities don are on par with the likes of the Oscars and the Met Gala.
Is there an app to watch foreign films? ›The best streaming services for foreign-language movies are Funimation (for anime), Magnolia (for documentaries), and Mubi (for feature-length films). In this list, we will be going through the all the options for those who have a preference for movies from outside the English-speaking world.
Can you learn Russian by watching TV? ›You forgot that you'd promised to study Russian for an hour every day this month. Fortunately, there's a solution here (which you've probably already guessed). Watching Russian TV shows is a great, laidback way to study for when you don't necessarily have the energy to focus on memorizing vocab and grammar.
What is the best way to learn Russian language? ›- Learn Cyrillic. ...
- Learn stressed (elongated) and unstressed (shortened) vowel sounds.
- Memorize Russian phrases and basic Russian words.
- Practice speaking Russian as much as possible, especially with native speakers.
What Languages Does Lingopie Offer? Lingopie has videos and flashcards for learning six languages: French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Where can I watch Russian movies with English subtitles online for free? ›- YouTube. People often say that YouTube is always the right site to begin with whenever you want to discover videos of a new category. ...
- Soviet Movies Online. Soviet Movies Online is a lovely website to watch free Russian movies online. ...
- Russian Film Hub.
Does Netflix have Russian shows? ›
Since the introduction of streaming services in the entertainment world, people are now not only just limited to movies and TV shows from Hollywood and their native countries but also have been shown interest in other country's languages such that you can now even watch best Russian tv shows and movies on Netflix in ...
Can you watch Netflix in Russian language? ›Tap Audio & Subtitles Languages. Select preferred languages from Audio & Subtitles Languages. The new languages will automatically save.
Is Russian film hub free? ›The vast majority of them are free to watch, primarily through YouTube, Prime Video, and Tubi. Other titles are available to rent or buy. Exploring and enjoying Russian and Soviet cinema has never been more accessible! No matter your preferences, you'll be able to find something great to watch on Russian Film Hub.
Where can I download Russian subtitles? ›...
Following are some of the best best site to download subtitles for a Movie or TV Show:
- VideoProc Converter.
- YIFY Subtitles.
- OpenSubtitles.
- Podnapisi.
- Subscene.
Soviet Movies Online is a pirate website that flagrantly ignores international copyright laws. Although Soviet Movies Online is frequently targeted with DMCA takedown requests by copyright holders, they still manage to host illegal video content through hosting on Vimeo, Dropbox, and their own servers.
Is Hulu blocked in Russia? ›Hulu is officially inaccessible in Russia, but that shouldn't let you keep you from streaming to your heart's content. Watching Hulu with PureVPN is easy breezy. All you need to do is a PureVPN subscription, and the native app downloaded and installed on your streaming device.
Is Hulu still in Russia? ›Is Hulu available in Russia? No, Hulu is not available in Russia but you can still watch Hulu in Russia through a VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN.
How do I get Russian subtitles on Hulu? ›During playback, click the Settings icon. Click into the Subtitles & Audio menu. Choose an available language or select Off.
How much does it cost to go to Cannes? ›The average price of a Weekend 3-day trip to Cannes, France is $937 for a solo traveller, $1593 for a couple, and $2062 for a family of 4. Cannes city centre hotel range from $309 to $772 with an average of $386 per night, while Airbnb rentals will cost you $96 per night for the entire apartment.
Who all are invited to Cannes? ›The Cannes Film Festival and its industry arm Marche du Cinema are two separate entities. While the festival is invite-only, anyone including producers, distributors, programmers and buyers can attend its Film Market.
Which celebrities can attend Cannes Film Festival? ›
Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Hina Khan, Pooja Hegde, Aditi Rao Hydari, Nayanthara, and more. Another edition of Cannes Film Festival is on the way, and all these Indian celebs are expected to attend. Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Nayanthara are expected to attend Cannes 2022.
Do you have to be invited to Cannes? ›Most folks can't attend the official selections for this particular film festival. Cannes restricts access to its official venues, with most of its offerings not open to the general public. Only certain groups can apply for “accreditation,” which in festival parlance means access to the official offerings.
Do you need an invitation to Cannes? ›The general television screenings at the Cannes Film Festival are open to anyone with a TV card and there is no application needed. They also show some films from the official competition line-up but still, you have a chance to catch those who didn't make it into the main event.
How do the French pronounce Cannes? ›How to Pronounce Cannes? (Movie Festival) | French Pronunciation
Who went to Cannes uninvited? ›Helly Shah at the Cannes Film Festival 2022. Besides Helly, actor Hina Khan was also not invited for the Indian Pavilion event at the festival.
Do film festivals make money? ›How Filmmakers Make Money. The short answer to the question of how filmmakers make money from film festivals is that they often don't. In fact, in some cases they lose money because they have to pay to submit their films.
Who will walk red carpet in Cannes? ›AR Rahman. AR Rahman has become a global celebrity, all thanks to his artistic genius. He will also be walking the Cannes Film Festival 2022's red carpet this year.
Does Russia have a movie industry? ›With 145 million cinema tickets sold in 2021, Russia is the fourth-largest film market in the world. Russian movie production started in the Russian Empire and steadily developed during the Soviet period.
Does Netflix have Russian shows? ›Since the introduction of streaming services in the entertainment world, people are now not only just limited to movies and TV shows from Hollywood and their native countries but also have been shown interest in other country's languages such that you can now even watch best Russian tv shows and movies on Netflix in ...
Do Russians have movies? ›In the 21st century, Russian cinema has become known internationally with films such as Hardcore Henry (2015), Leviathan (2014), Night Watch (2004) and Brother (1997). The Moscow International Film Festival began in Moscow in 1935. The Nika Award is the main annual national film award in Russia.
Is there an app to watch foreign films? ›
The best streaming services for foreign-language movies are Funimation (for anime), Magnolia (for documentaries), and Mubi (for feature-length films). In this list, we will be going through the all the options for those who have a preference for movies from outside the English-speaking world.
Does Russia watch American movies? ›Svidler notes that more than 70% of the films shown in Russia are Hollywood movies.
Do they have movie theaters in Russia? ›Russian cinema chains
Kinomax, KARO, Imperiya Kino, and Formula Kino were among the pioneers in this segment. At the turn of the 21st century, the widespread opening of shopping malls and entertainment centers across the country made it possible to open cinemas in them, generating an additional stream of visitors.
The cinema of Japan (日本映画, Nihon eiga, also known domestically as 邦画 hōga, "domestic cinema") has a history that spans more than 100 years.
Does Amazon Prime have Russian-language? ›Amazon is a great resource to help you learn Russian. With the option to stream, rent or purchase the films, you can watch multiple Russian movies on Amazon Prime. Choose from different genres to watch at home or on the go!
Why did Netflix pull out of Russia? ›The streaming service confirmed that it pulled its service on Sunday after it found operating in Russia "too challenging given the increase in sanctions and growing payment challenges," the Wall Street Journal reported.
How can I watch Russian movies with English subtitles? ›- Russian Film Hub. A great website to watch hundreds of Russian movies with foreign subtitles. ...
- Советские movies. ...
- zFilm-HD.org. ...
- Star Media. ...
- Mosfilm cinema concern. ...
- Odesa Film Studio. ...
- RusFilmES. ...
- НТВ
- Hardcore Henry.
- Kid-E-Cats.
- Secret Magic Control Agency.
- Major Grom: Plague Doctor.
- Sparta.
- Dovlatov.
- Masha and the Bear: Nursery Rhymes.
- Masha and the Bear.
There are 3300 television channels in total.
How many cinema screens are there in Russia? ›Roughly 5.7 thousand cinema screens were registered in Russia as of January 1, 2022, marking an increase by nearly 260 screens compared to the previous year.
Which is the best free movie streaming site? ›
- YouTube. You probably already know that YouTube has all manner of independently made vlogs and shows — some of it is even good. ...
- Crackle. ...
- Pluto TV. ...
- Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) ...
- Fawesome. ...
- Tubi TV. ...
- Crunchyroll. ...
- Peacock TV.
- Kanopy. If you love art house or classic movies, Kanopy is the best site for free streaming. ...
- Popcornflix. For those who prefer more mainstream movies, Popcornflix perfectly fits its name. ...
- Vimeo. ...
- Internet Archive. ...
- Sony Crackle. ...
- Vudu. ...
- IMDb. ...
- hoopla.
- Best Overall: Crackle.
- Best for a Variety of Movies: Popcornflix.
- Best for Finding Movies Around the Web: Yidio.
- Best for High-Quality Movies: Vudu.
- Best for Movie Information: Freevee.
- Best for a TV Experience: Pluto TV.