Capital Celluloid 2020 – Day 31: Fri Jan 31

Leto (Serebrennikov, 2018): Cine Lumiere, 7.30pm


This Kino Klassika screening is part of Melodia!, a thrilling season of classic and contemporary musicals from Russia and the Caucasus. Melodia! celebrates the diversity and complexity of the genre across Soviet, Russian and Caucasian cultures. You can find the full details here. The film will be followed by a Q&A with actor and musician Roman Bilyk.

London Film Festival review:
Amid the hyper-controlled cultural world of pre-Perestroika Leningrad, a rock scene is burgeoning. Their leader is the charismatic Mike (Roma Zver), who works in a factory by day and transcribes Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and David Bowie lyrics by night. Enter Viktor Tsoy (Teo Yoo), an aspiring musician who quickly charms the gang – and Mike’s girlfriend Natasha (Irina Starshenbaum). Amongst the rockers inspired by Western music playing in Communist Party-licensed clubs and semi-sedated audiences whose applause is policed, Tsoy’s raw talent is a breath of fresh air and hints at the possibility of – and need for – change. Though Serebrennikov remains under house arrest on as-yet-unfounded embezzlement charges, Summer is a timely mood piece that dares to ask how artists can survive in a repressive regime.
Anna Bogutskaya

Here (and above) is the trailer.

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