Garage’s series of meetings with people who make contemporary culture continues with a discussion between film critic Anton Dolin and young director Kantemir Balagov.
Released this year, Kantemir Balagov’s debut feature Tesnota (Closeness) received a warm reception from the critics (FIPRESCI award in Cannes) and later with the public as it hit Russian screens in the summer. With its simple visual language, the tragedy of a Jewish family that unfolds in Nalchik in 1998, proved to be a universal fable combining politics with elements of a coming of age story about first love and the conflict of generations, as well as a philosophical meditation on the nature and essence of freedom.
Balagov, who studied at Alexander Sokurov’s studio in Kabardino-Balkaria, and critic Anton Dolin will talk about contemporary Russian cinema, focusing on the crisis of film education and production in North Caucasus, and the phenomenal success of Closeness made possible by the director’s dedication to his art.
