Director: Alexander Sokurov
Starring: Cecile Zervudacki, Robert Vaap, Aleksandr Abdulov, Pyotor Aleksandrov, Nadezhda Rodnova, Mstislav Rostropovich, Galina Vishnevskaya
Running Time: 320 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: None
Highly prolific and political Russian director Alexander Sokurov is probably most famous for the first unedited movie RUSSIAN ARK (2002). Making films and documentaries since 1974 Artificial Eye had lots of choice for their ALEXANDER SOKUROV COLLECTION – how did they do?
SAVE AND PROTECT is a tough slog through the life of a single lady based on Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. Cecile Zervudacki is imperious in the lead role portraying the arrogance, naivety, and lack of morals necessary for the part; unfortunately other than this there is little to draw you to an overlong orgy of nudity and tedium. There is a hint that Sokurov uses Cecile’s character as a metaphor for the Soviet Union – the fall happened a year after release – the way her life unravels towards the film’s conclusion obviously mirrors the novel; but the release’s timing could mean more.
THE SECOND CIRCLE looks at a son arranging his father’s funeral. The approach Sokurov takes is to not look at mourning, but the banality and cost involved in saying goodbye to a loved one. Shot in beautiful long takes THE SECOND CIRCLE is more complete than SAVE AND PROTECT but the subject being what it is it is a film difficult to enjoy but easy to relate: anyone who has lost a loved one will sympathise with the son’s situation, particularly after he is robbed of the money for the funeral. The most troubling aspect of THE SECOND CIRCLE is the way the father’s body is moved around like a rag-doll, but this is Sokurov’s point – the dead are an inconvenience and treated with no respect. The Soviet Union again at the heart of his work.
ELEGY OF LIFE is a beautiful documentary on the lives of Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya, musician and singer respectively. Using archival, new performance, general day-to-day, and interview footage, Sokurov’s passion for the couples work is clear to see, particularly Rostropovich, who he interviews here. Easily the most entertaining and accessible third of this collection ELEGY OF LIFE is essential viewing.
THE ALEXANDER SOKUROV COLLECTION is a great introduction to the director’s lesser known works. It won’t win him many new fans, but current ones will be delighted by what’s on show.
THE ALEXANDER SOKUROV COLLECTION is available on DVD 22nd October
