Confessions of a banned Soviet director
Published 28 March, 2008, 12:01
Film fans in Moscow have had a rare insight into what goes on behind the camera lens. Georgian-French director Otar Iosseliani, once banned in the Soviet Union, has revealed some of his professional secrets in Moscow.
For the first time ever the filmmaker is showing the public rare photographs from his film sets, shooting sheets with his own sketches, schemes and comments.
He has always wanted to show the simple truth of life. As a result, his films were repeatedly banned in the USSR due to censorship.
Iosseliani moved to France to work there. As he says, you can make Georgian cinema anywhere, it's not about geography.
“Favourites of the Moon”, “Chasing Butterflies”, “In vino veritas”, “Monday Morning” – the films of Iosseliani are sort of parables. They are contemplative, full of mild humour, and longing for something.
His films have won prizes at festivals in Cannes, Venice and Berlin.
Iosseliani was even awarded the French Order of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. But it's never been a question of awards or commercial success for the filmmaker. He just goes his own way, and welcomes us to follow. As Iosseliani once put it, you can't give a lesson with the help of cinema. You can just give a bit of hope to someone, who thinks like you think.
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