An Example of Intonation

This is the second documentary focusing on the person of Boris Yeltsin (the first having been Soviet Elegy, of 1990). Sokúrov introduces a conversation between the then Russian president and members of his family, where the feelings of insecurity of the great statesman are eventually laid bare - his vulnerability and anguish - bringing his human side to surface. “This film must be viewed as an edifying example for the spectators or for my director colleagues. It is not my intent to teach them to see, to speak, to think or, in what way they should present something. In the title, by ‚Äòan example‚Äô I mean an experience, an attempt, in the sense of running risks”, says Sokúrov. “I can not disguise my liking for the protagonist. Now, if you can see the man behind the President of Russia, that will be sufficient for me.”

Was born in 1951 in the city of Podorvikha, Russia. His work, even as a student, was unacceptable to Russian bureaucracy, and he was accused of formalism and of assuming "anti-Soviet views". His first feature, The Lonely Human Voice (1978, 26th Mostra) was refused as a graduating project by the VGIK, the Russian Cinema Institute. Sokurov`s films were shown in Brazil since 1997, at the 21st Mostra, with Mother and Son. He had a retrospective of 33 of his films at 26th Mostra, when was also released the first book in Portuguese about his work, Aleksandr Sokúrov, by publishing house Cosac Naify. Among his most important films are Dolce (1999, 24th Mostra), Elegy of a Voyage (2001, 25th Mostra), The Russian Arc (2002, 26th Mostra), Father and Son (2003, 27th Mostra) Alexandra (2007, 32nd Mostra), in addition to the films that complete the Power Tetralogy: Moloch (1999, 23rd Mostra) about Hitler; Taurus, about Lenin (2001, 26th Mostra), and The Sun, about the Japanese emperor Hirohito (2005, 30th Mostra).

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA