TONITE’S BEST: The Immortal Monk (For A. Solonitsyn’s 80th) Андрей Рублёв/Andrei Rublev (USSR. Mosfilm, 1966)(Kultura, 21:30) -- > One of the great films of the last century, Andrei Tarkovsky’s stylized biography of the medieval icon painter Rublev was a work of genius that became a political cause célèbre, its form and substance debated not only by cultural gatekeepers (at Mosfilm, Goskino and elsewhere) but in the Politburo itself. The film threw the Soviet establishment into a panic, predictably, because (1) the screenplay had been published (in Iskusstvo Kino in 1964), so any and all changes made to it by censors would be immediately evident (and publicly debated); and (2) while it was clearly a masterwork and clearly drawn from a specific era in Russian history, the film was both difficult to describe in the formulaic short sentences and small words so beloved of Soviet cultural authorities and, even worse, simply impossible to keep in its 15th c. box: too much of it spoke directly to issues of the individual and the state that have never ceased arising over the 1000-yr course of Russian history – including after 1917 and 1953, of course...and now clearly in 2014 as well. So yes, panic was the appropriate response – followed by inappropriate action, naturally, in this case years of demanding cuts and then more cuts from the director (“We don’t want to censor the film, comrade – we want YOU to…”), with the result that while “AR” had been shown abroad (in one form) and won prizes in France in 1969, it reached Soviet screens (though still restricted and in yet *another* form) only in 1971 – and then general release, at length, only under perestroika in 1987. Now, predictably, it exists in a number of different cuts, with running time differences of up to 39 min. among them. But forget all that – and the volumes more of social commentary that go with it – as you get set to tune in tonites Kultura showing (which is likely one of the best prints available). This is a compelling and very complex 8-part production that demands your attention and will reward it. The script (by AT and A. Konchalovsky) is often more allusive than explicit -- esp. for non-Russians -- so be prepared to make some links yourself. Massive kudos, in any case, to AT, AK, the debuting A. Solonytsin (1934-1982) as the eponymous monk, and a host of others. Briefly put, if you’ve never seen “AR,” you are now officially on notice and out of excuses. And if you have, you’ll forgive my marveling at the obvious for a moment: this is a film that yields more (and sometimes in unexpected places) every time you watch it, so do so again – you’ll thank yourself later. tvkultura.ru/brand/show/brand_id/27077
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:51:41 +0000
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