JOIN USRussian film festival to promote ties
It was a treat for Delhi’s film enthusiasts to be a part of the recently concluded Russian Film Festival.
Be it science-fiction, comedy or drama, the week-long festival had films from different genres to entertain Indian audiences as well as Russians living in the country. What made the festival a glossy affair was the presence of Russian film celebrities like Ksenia Rappoport, Anna Starshenbaum and Anastasia Zavorotnyuk on the first day of the festival.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Embassy of the Russian Federation, the Russian Centre of Science and Culture and NOY Film Company, the festival opened with Mothers - a comic flick revolving around the lives of eight different mothers. It highlights the individual efforts made by their grown-up kids to congratulate their mother on Women’s Day even as the telephone network crashes.
Director of the Russian Centre Fedor Rozovskiy pointed out that latest Russian movies are being shown enabling viewers to have an impression of the Russia of today. “The festival is devoted to an important milestone in the history of Russian-Indian relations – the 65th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations and cherishing the memory of late premier Indira Gandhi for her role in promoting bilateral relations,” he said.
The best of the Russian movies of 2011 and 2012 were included. Movies like 2 Days; My Boyfriend is an Angel and 8 First Dates (all comedies); The Conductor, Kokoko and White Tiger were a treat for film lovers. Almost all have found critical acclaim at various international festivals.
White Tiger, Russia’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category this year is based on a novel The Tank Crewman, and set during the World War II era. The movie opens with attacks and counter-attacks between Soviets and fascist troops. As the fighting becomes tough, Germany introduces a huge indestructible tank ‘White Tiger’ in the battlefield. The Soviet high command on its part, decides to build an extraordinary tank to counter it.
The crew is headed by a man who was almost burnt alive in combat and doomed to death, but contrary to expectations survives, recovers and returns to rank. However, he suffers from retrograde amnesia and has acquired an unusual ability to understand the language of tanks. His pursuit of the ‘White Tiger’ begins, which is really the embodiment of war.