July Rain (Khutsiev, 1963): Barbican Cinema, 6pm
This groundbreaking Soviet film, screened from a 35mm print, is part of the 'Other Modernism, Other Futures' season (details here).
Variety review:One
of the highlights of the Locarno Soviet retrospective, Marlen
Khutsiev’s “July Rain” has lost none of its radical modernity.
Often described as the Soviet version of an Antonioni film, pic
follows 28-year-old Lena (Evgeniya Uralova, who bears a vague
resemblance to Monica Vitti) through a kind of existential crisis, as
she realizes her relationship with perfect boyfriend Volodya
(Aleksandr Belyavsky) is empty and their friends are superficial
fools. The film captures a moment in time when Soviet life was
radically changing, when the joyful camaraderie was turning into
modern solitude and emptiness. The images, lensed by German Lavrov in
striking B&W, often contrast with the soundtrack, as in the long
opening dolly through the streets of Moscow to the accompaniment of
radio music.
Made
shortly before the Soviet invasion of Prague in 1968, it is in many
ways a prophetic work forecasting the end of the dream of
collectivism. This is in notable contrast to Khutsiev’s previous
film, “I Am Twenty,” which propounded socialism with a human
face. “Twenty”
was violently attacked by Khrushchev, but won a prize at Venice in a
cut version. “July Rain” was also invited to Venice, but the
authorities refused to send it. It received a very limited release.
Deborah Young
Here (and above) is an extract.
No comments:
Post a Comment