Russia hopes to win in Venice

Kirill Serebrennikov does not particularly like film festivals. 'I don't feel at ease. I only relax after the screening of the movie,' he says in his blog. But the Russian director does not seem at all uncomfortable on the red carpet at the 69th annual Venice Film Festival. Surrounded by reporters and photographers, Serebrennikov arrives at the Lido on the wave of expectation that follows Aleksander Sokurov's  Golden Lion triumph last year with the film ‘Faust’. Sokurov is a
tough act to follow, even for Serebrennikov, who is admired at home for his amazing ability to combine classical stories with original, extravagant revisions. He has done this over the years with numerous theatrical productions, receiving critical acclaim in 2006 when his ‘Izobrazhaya zhertvu’ (Playing the victim) won at the first annual International Rome Film Festival.

Now the challenge moves to Venice. It may prove difficult this time around, now that the impressive ‘Faust’ has raised expectations among those who love and follow Russian cinema. 'Italy is a country that brings me luck,' he confessed, almost crossing his fingers and adjusting the white cap pulled down on his head.

This second day of the festival is drenched in the gorgeous, late-August sun. But it belongs to Serebrennikov, as he allows himself to be swept away by the flash of photographers that surround him on the terrace of the Excelsior hotel. In front of the swimming pool with a view to the sea, the director, accompanied by actresses Franziska Petri and Albina Dzhanabaeva, speaks of his film ‘Izmena,’ which means betrayal in English. The story is canonical; it tells of the encounter between two strangers who discover that their partners are cheating on them. 'The film is about jealousy, deceit,  disappointment,' Serebrennikov explained. 'These are feelings that everyone encounters on a daily basis.'

Kirill Serebrennikov (in the middle) with Franziska Petri, left, and Albina Dzhanabaeva. Source: Anna Casazza 

Russia Beyond the Headlines talked with Serebrennikov about Russian movies and his achievements.


Russia Beyond the Headlines: This is not your first film festival in Italy. What is it like for you being here in Venice?


Kirill Serebrennikov: I won in Rome in 2006 with ‘Izobrazhaya zhertvu’. But this is my first time here in Venice. For me it is a great joy. There is an excellent program, beautiful movies and amazing organization.

RBTH: Do you feel the stress of having to somehow compete with ‘Faust’ by Sokurov?

K.S.: Absolutely not. There should be no competition in art. And above all, it is not something measurable: you cannot calculate how much better the Sokurov ‘s films are. Art is subjective.

RBTH: Do you know the other two Russian directors here in Venice, Aleksey Balabanov and Lyubov Arkus?


K.S.: Of course I do. They are very good directors. Aleksey Balabanov has been one of the most successful directors on the Russian film scene for many years. All of his films are very well-known. And he creates films that are intelligent and touching. 

RBTH: And the Italians?


K.S.: I am familiar with the older film directors, those who have made history. I love Fellini, Pasolini. But if I had to name my favorite Italian director, I would say Visconti, without a doubt.

RBTH: Getting back to the Festival, who do you think will win the Golden Lion?


K.S.: I won't deny that I am rooting for us to win; obviously I support Russian cinema. But if they do not award the prize to Thomas Anderson,  I swear I'll jump in the pool right now (laughing). 

RBTH: Why did you decide to direct a film about infidelity?


K.S.:  With this film I meant to explore myself and the human race in-depth. I wanted to study one of the many aspects of love, to find out how people react when faced with such difficult situations. This is just one of the many aspects of love, mind you. Obviously it is not the only one. There could be many other things to say and tell.

RBTH: Perhaps there is one thing that this film has in common with your previous film, ‘Izobrazhaya zhertvu’: the transition from being the victim to being the offender. Is that how it is?


K.S.:  Indeed, I would say so. In the previous film it was obvious. But it is also perceptible in this film. Nowadays, the line between victim and offender is very thin. It is easy to cross over to the other side.

RBTH: What are your thoughts on the future of cinema?


K.S.:  Speaking about the film industry, there is no doubt that, in the coming years, we will still be very much attached to Hollywood and Bollywood: for the simple reason that these are vast systems of production, which China will soon also contribute  to. But if we are talking about the cinema as art, then we need to invest more into it, keep the cinematic traditions alive. I believe that investment from the government in this field is very important, because it would
automatically become an investment in culture, like the Louvre, the Hermitage or the Uffizi. This would obviously also apply to theatre. 

RBTH: How much do you know about Italy?


K.S.:  I've been to Rome many times - I have many friends there. And I have many fond memories of Venice, but only as a tourist. Italy is everywhere. I live in Russia, but I'm surrounded by little pieces of Italy: we eat Italian food, wear Italian clothes, listen to Italian music. I find myself in Italy every day, even though I am at home. After all, Europe is a very close to us. We are all the same, and that's what I meant to show in this movie: the problems that people have today are the same in every country. It does not change just because you are of a different nationality. Pain speaks the same language. Suffering and despair do not need to be translated.

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