Russian Films @ MFA

ENVISIONING RUSSIA, Sept 3-Oct 23, 2008

AT:   Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

INFO:  mfa.org  or  617-369-3907

Envisioning Russia celebrates a century of cinema with 16 films produced by MosFilm, the “USSR Hollywood.”
Started as the state film factory, Mosfilm became the largest and most productive film studio during the Soviet era, and it remains Russia’s most important film institution today.
At its height, Mosfilm hosted the most popular stars and produced the most lavish productions.
Spanning the variety of Russian filmmaking, from musicals to action/adventure and “Easterns,” this showcase includes acclaimed classics as well as the newly-discovered treasures of Russian cinema.

Highlights include: Screenings of several groundbreaking masterpieces by some of cinema’s most noteworthy directors. Sept 5: Mikhail Romm’s The Russian Question Sept 11: Sergei Eisenstein’s The Battleship Potemkin Sept 11 & 13: Mikhail Kalatozov’s The Cranes are Flying Sept 18: Andrei Tarkovsky’s The Mirror Sept 21: Larisa Shepitko’s The Ascent Sept 27: Andrei Konchalovsky’s Chekhov adaptation Uncle Vanya A look at artistic critiques of Soviet ideals through Aleksandr Medvedkin’s controversial folk tale Happiness (Sept 11). Classic Easterns are represented by Mikhail Kalatozov’s The Letter Never Sent (Sept 13), a perennial crowd-pleaser heavily influenced by the American western. The 1930s musical trailblazers Jolly Fellows (Sept 17) capture the sounds and music of the era, providing the template for one of Russia’s most successful film styles. Oct 3-23: A 5-show engagement of Vera Storozheva’s recent film Traveling with Pets, winner of the grand prize at the 2007 Moscow International Film Festival.

Ticket Information $10 general admission $6, $7 for discount matinee prices (weekday until 5 pm; weekends until 12:30 pm). Purchase ticket via the box office at 617-369-3306 or mfa.org/film.

Envisioning Russia is a presentation of Seagull Films and The Film Society of Lincoln Center in cooperation with Mosfilm. Special thanks are due to Karen Shakhnazarov. Curated by Alla Verlotsky and Richard Pena. All descriptions written by Richard Pena.

Sunday, October 19, 2008, 1:45 pm Film Traveling with Pets Over the course of this lyrical, poetic film, a number of possible lives for one young woman are imagined....

Thursday, October 23, 2008, 2:15 pm Film Traveling with Pets Over the course of this lyrical, poetic film, a number of possible lives for one young woman are imagined....