1. RUSSIAN CINEMA TODAY BLOCKBUSTERS, EPICS, AND COMEDIES

2. A plethora of media Traditional features Pop big budget films serious auteur movies: Sokurov, Lungin Smaller budget films Films derived from television serials revisiting Russian history: Admiral, Liquidation

3. Blockbuster: Night Watch (2004) Night Watch Night Watch Director Timur Bekmambetov (advertising clip producer) Director Timur Bekmambetov (advertising clip producer) Based on a popular fantasy novel by Sergei Lukyanenko (witches, vampires, etc.; forces of Good and Evil) Based on a popular fantasy novel by Sergei Lukyanenko (witches, vampires, etc.; forces of Good and Evil) Big budget; “clip aesthetics.” Big budget; “clip aesthetics.” International distribution, recognition in Hollywood. Two sequels. International distribution, recognition in Hollywood. Two sequels.

4. 16121612 (2007) 1612 Director Vladimir Khotinenko, producer Nikita Mikhalkov Director Vladimir Khotinenko, producer Nikita Mikhalkov Genre: historical epic, fantasy and action Genre: historical epic, fantasy and action Set in the time of civil disorder (no legitimate tsar, Polish intervention, the Pretender). Set in the time of civil disorder (no legitimate tsar, Polish intervention, the Pretender). Themes: united we win; love, loyalty and betrayal; fatal craving for power as opposed to heroic self-sacrifice. Themes: united we win; love, loyalty and betrayal; fatal craving for power as opposed to heroic self-sacrifice.

5. Pavel Lungin’s Tsar (2009) Tsar

6. The plot Covers three years from 1566-1569: from Ivan bringing Filipp back from exile and making him the metropolitan to Filipp’s death on Ivan’s orders. Covers three years from 1566-1569: from Ivan bringing Filipp back from exile and making him the metropolitan to Filipp’s death on Ivan’s orders. Four parts: The Tsar’s Prayer; the Tsar’s War; the Tsar’s Anger; the Tsar’s Entertainment Four parts: The Tsar’s Prayer; the Tsar’s War; the Tsar’s Anger; the Tsar’s Entertainment Russian version Russian version Russian version Russian version

7. Aleksandr Sokurov’s tetralogy on the decline of the powerful Moloch (1999) Taurus (2000) The Sun (2004) Faust (2011)

8. MolochMoloch (1999) A Portrait of Hitler in Berchtesgaden

9. TaurusTaurus (2000) Lenin in 1923

10. The Sun (2004) Japanese Emperor Hirohito in 1945 Emperor Hirohito Emperor Hirohito

11. Faust

12. PITER FM, 2006 Director: Oksana Bychkova (her debut) Director: Oksana Bychkova (her debut) Genre: melodrama, comedy Genre: melodrama, comedy Love story of a boy (architect) and a girl (radio Dj) who don’t even meet. The central character – Saint-Petersburg itself. Love story of a boy (architect) and a girl (radio Dj) who don’t even meet. The central character – Saint-Petersburg itself. Music, humour, feel-good atmosphere, and (supposedly) happy ending. Music, humour, feel-good atmosphere, and (supposedly) happy ending.

13. PITER FM (youth, love, music) PITER FM (youth, love, music)

14. Questions Which film did you find most interesting? Which film did you find most interesting? Which film did you find least interesting? Which film did you find least interesting? Whose films would you like to see more of (if any)? Whose films would you like to see more of (if any)? Has this course helped you understand Russia? Has this course helped you understand Russia?