A rhythmical shortfilm based on public life in Moscow, inspired on the short stories of Daniil Charms. The main character, never visible as a voyeur, observes public life in this intriguing, chaotic city. The film had its première at the Kunstenfestival, Brussels, and was shown at Viewpoint, Videofestival, Gent amongst other European festivals.
It won the ‘prix du jury’ in the ‘Entrainements # 4’ festival in Paris, 2003.
Moscow, August 1999. Choreographer Hans Van den Broeck, Benoît Vivien – an acrobat, magician, musician and actor in La Sortie (their last production) – and Martine Van Hecke – a translator who had lived in Russia for many years – are there to work on a film project. In 1995, when Everyman was on tour in Moscow, Hans met Georgii Michailovski, an actor and fabulous storyteller. Four years later, Hans, Benoît and Martine joined Georgii in Moscow with their digital video camera, a joint project, to delve into the everyday life of the city and to pay tribute to its strange beauty. Summer in Moscow is a time when life and living move outdoors. It is pleasantly warm and free from the harshness of winter, Muscovites pour into its public spaces.
A few weeks later it would have been impossible to make the film. Shaken by a wave of violence that the Kremlin attributed to ‘Chechen terrorists’, Moscow was under a state of siege, controlled by the army and police. But during this quiet summer of 1999, without having permission to film, Hans and his friends discreetly set down their camera in parks, on suburban streets and busy city centre roads. The team members took it in turn so as not to attract the attention of the police, who would have immediately confiscated their equipment. A jovial bunch, the Muscovites called out to them and asked them what they were doing or, impassively going about their business, ignored them.
CAST & CREW/
DIRECTION & CAMERA
Hans Van den Broeck
ASSISTISTANCE DIRECTING
Georgii Michaelovski, Martine Van Hecke, Benoît Vivien
ASSISTANT EDITING & SOUND
Dirk De Hooghe
SECOND CAMERA
Benoît Vivien
NARRATOR
Vadim Koshkin
WITH THE COLLABORATION OF
citizens of Moscow, Anna Kolejtjoek, Vadim Trollerov, Zjenja Olyoek
SHORT STORIES
Daniil Charms ‘The Plummeting old Woman’, 'A meeting’
MUSIC
Alfred Schnittke, 'In search of the nose’,‘The portrait’, ‘The sabbath’; Arvo Pärt, ‘Fratres’,‘Adionai’, ‘Magnificat’; Alexander Vertinsky - 'Those were the days'
PRODUCTION
Les Ballets C de la B
DISTRIBUTION - CONTACT: INFO@ARGOSARTS.COM
Argos
EDITING STUDIO
Alea Jacta
