Wednesdays with Cinema at MCF – Tribute devoted to Alexander Sokurov
Wednesdays with Cinema at MCF
Screenings with Classic Cinema Masterpieces
In Cooperation with New Star and Velissarios Kossyvakis
Every Wednesday at MCF with the entrance free of charge
January 2012
Tribute devoted to Alexander Sokurov
From Wednesday 4/1/2012 to Wednesday 25/1/2012,
at 21:30
Wednesdays with Cinema at MCF
MCF in the line of its overall contribution to the art lovers of the city of Athens with the cooperation, as well as the support of New Star, the independent distribution company for specially selected films and Velissarios Kossyvakis, establishes an informal Cinema Club, every Wednesday at 21:30, with the entrance free of charge, in the Foundation’s high standards Cinema Hall.
Films by acknowledged and new filmmakers, films which shape a well-built cinematic language with evident mark of each director, films which have contributed to the specific image as well as the progress of that cinema which illustrates the diverse, which shapes horizons, entertains and at the same time focuses on humans and situations, relationships and events of wider interest.
January 2012 – Devoted to Alexander Sokurov
The short tribute devoted to Woody Allen that flooded the MCF Cinema Hall in crowd during December, follows the screening of four films by the extraordinary Russian director, Alexander Sokurov. As Ingmar Bergman said, Sokurov breaks the norms in every aspect. Every film of his is unexpectedly charming.
Alexander Sokurov is widely renowned as the leader of “Spiritual” pioneers of the Soviet cinema and as the beneficiary of the Tarkofsky’s legacy while he is perhaps the most ambitious and authentic director of his generation, among all the directors globally. His films carry such a visual power and such a moral depth that are acclaimed as memorable sentimental experiences. His vision is entirely unique; it is a vision of inexhaustible creativity.
ALEXANDRA
Russia/ France – 2007 – 92 minutes – Color
Official Selection Festival de Cannes
Chechnya nowadays. The Russian camps. The Grandma Aleksandra Nikolaevna came to visit her grandson, one of the best officers of his military division. Staying here for a couple of days, a new world will open before her eyes. In this man dominated universe, there are no women, warmth and amenities. Lifestyle is pathetic. They feel ashamed even for their emotions. They might have neither time, nor courage for these. Every now and then, human lives are in danger. However, anyways universe is inhabited by “human creatures”!
Directed by: Aleksandr Sokurov
Script: Aleksandr Sokurov
Cast: Galina Vishnevskaya, Vasily Shevtsov, Raisa Gichae, Andrei Bogdanov, Aleksandr Kladko, Aleksei Neymyshev, Rustam Shakhgireev, Evgeni Tkachuk
Produced by: Laurent Danielou (producer), Dmitriy Gerbachevskiy (executive producer), Andrey Sigle (producer)
Original Music by: Andrey Sigle
Cinematography by: Aleksandr Burov
Film Editing by: Sergei Ivanov
Production Design by: Dmitri Malich-Konkov
Costume Design by: Lidiya Kryukova
Makeup: Zhanna Rodionova
Production Management: Lika Mokhova, Dmitry Nikitin, Sergey Ramzaev, Anna Svetlakova
Sound Department: Vladimir Persov
Special Effects by: Efim Berson, Igor Plaksin, Oleg Plaksin
Visual Effects by: Alexey Goussev, Evgeny Mironenko, Oleg Muranov
Mother and Son
The ultimate heartrending elegy by ALEXANDER SOKUROV
for the deepest human relationship
(nostalgia, loss, solitude)
In a little house into the woods, at an indefinite time, the son shares his mother’s last moments. They talk about their common past, the sad future, a relationship of ultimate peace, affection, devotion and love, immersed into melancholy. Mother passes away, the Son, all alone now on in the wild nature, in the winds, the light, the clouds and the sun, wanders around entirely void, in world that has nothing to offer him anymore.
The ultimate elegy for nostalgia, the loss and the solitude, an artistic vision by Alexander Sokurov, a unique blending of painting (the films images are literally moving artworks), music, poetry, the film that made him globally renowned as one of the greatest modern visionary artists. The film was awarded with the Universal Award at the Berlin Film Festival, won in many other Festivals and was released in 30 countries.
Father and Son by Alexander Sokurov
A small family, a father and a son, live in the attic of an old house. Father has been demobilized from the army; he abandoned his beloved air force. He has stopped his career despite his will, the circumstances forced him. An active warrior who retired being middle-aged. As a student, at the Air Force Military School, he experienced his first and only love of his life. His lover became his wife and they had a son. At the age of twenty years old. The lady passed away young. This love is his secret happiness.
The son grew up; it seems he is going to be a military servant as well, like his father. The son keeps on reminding his father about his wife. He doesnt distinguish his son from this love he still feels; he is the bond with his dead wife. The father cannot imagine a life without his son. The devoted son loves deeply his father, his emotions rise up by an instinctive moral obligation which is challenged by life. Their love is almost of legendary scale and ethics. It cannot exist in real life. It is fairytale relationship.
The Sun
Alexander Sokurov
The general Douglas Mc Arthur, general commander for the regions forces, advises his President not to name Hirohito a war criminal. The film monitors the meetings between these two persons. The American general in his memoirs mentioned that the emperor was ready to undertake responsibilities for the actions of the Government and his army, knowing well enough that consequences of such a confession would be court and death penalty. “I felt shock” Mc Arthur writes. “He might were emperor by divine right, however, at that moment, I realized, that at the same time he was also a real gentleman, the first Japanese gentleman I had ever met in my life”. A few days later, the emperor Hirohito in one public speech denies his divine origin, defining himself as “symbol of the state and the people’s unity”.
