Comments on: A Dangerous New Nationalism in Russian Cinema? http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/ LFM: The Voice of Freedom in Movies & Pop Culture Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:08:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Govindini Murty http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-623 Govindini Murty Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:09:55 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-623 I would hardly say that Mikhalkov is right wing in the American sense. He's openly stated he's a monarchist, while the American right-wing is very much democratic and believes in the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution. As for Mikhalkov not having the cinematic influence of Tarkovsky - that was not my point either (and we're big fans of Tarkovsky here). The point is that a tremendous amount of power over Russian filmmaking is in the hands of one person - Mikhalkov - who is also close to the Kremlin and gets most of the financing in Russia. It reveals the state of mind and the centralizing instincts of the Russian establishment - and this is definitely relevant for all of us. Why are all these major film festivals honoring Mikhalkov now, when, as you say, he's had not much cinematic influence? Not only did he get a special award from the Venice Film Festival a few years ago, this year Cannes showed "Burnt By the Sun 2" and allowed it to compete for awards (even though it had premiered elsewhere), and Karlovy Vary is giving him a big tribute and also screening the film. What I'm pointing out is that these honors may be the Europeans trying to appease Putin and his allies. Since LFM is a film site that is interested in international cinema, this reveals provocative things about the mindset of the European film industry. I would hardly say that Mikhalkov is right wing in the American sense. He’s openly stated he’s a monarchist, while the American right-wing is very much democratic and believes in the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution.

As for Mikhalkov not having the cinematic influence of Tarkovsky – that was not my point either (and we’re big fans of Tarkovsky here). The point is that a tremendous amount of power over Russian filmmaking is in the hands of one person – Mikhalkov – who is also close to the Kremlin and gets most of the financing in Russia. It reveals the state of mind and the centralizing instincts of the Russian establishment – and this is definitely relevant for all of us.

Why are all these major film festivals honoring Mikhalkov now, when, as you say, he’s had not much cinematic influence? Not only did he get a special award from the Venice Film Festival a few years ago, this year Cannes showed “Burnt By the Sun 2″ and allowed it to compete for awards (even though it had premiered elsewhere), and Karlovy Vary is giving him a big tribute and also screening the film. What I’m pointing out is that these honors may be the Europeans trying to appease Putin and his allies. Since LFM is a film site that is interested in international cinema, this reveals provocative things about the mindset of the European film industry.

]]> By: Govindini Murty http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-614 Govindini Murty Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:09:29 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-614 Thanks so much for your comment Looksoverpark. I do indeed look forward to the day when there will be financing for films with a greater variety of viewpoints! As for government financing, yes, it is a sort of Faustian bargain. On the one hand, most of the government financing in the US, Canada, and European countries goes to predominantly left-wing filmmakers who are able to find subjects that will please government bureaucrats. Obviously I have concerns about that. On the other hand, in some countries - such as Canada or even France and Germany - if there was no government financing the filmmaking output of these nations would plummet and they would have almost no national film industries. It's a complex situation. The problem for conservatives is, not only do they not get government financing (even if I approved of such a thing), they get next to no financing from the private sector either because conservative businesspeople are not willing to support conservative artists. It's really an appalling situation, and not very good for the cultural diversity of America. Thanks so much for your comment Looksoverpark. I do indeed look forward to the day when there will be financing for films with a greater variety of viewpoints! As for government financing, yes, it is a sort of Faustian bargain. On the one hand, most of the government financing in the US, Canada, and European countries goes to predominantly left-wing filmmakers who are able to find subjects that will please government bureaucrats. Obviously I have concerns about that. On the other hand, in some countries – such as Canada or even France and Germany – if there was no government financing the filmmaking output of these nations would plummet and they would have almost no national film industries. It’s a complex situation. The problem for conservatives is, not only do they not get government financing (even if I approved of such a thing), they get next to no financing from the private sector either because conservative businesspeople are not willing to support conservative artists. It’s really an appalling situation, and not very good for the cultural diversity of America.

]]> By: Govindini Murty http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-613 Govindini Murty Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:04:09 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-613 I haven't seen "The Fall of Berlin." I'll have to look for it. I haven’t seen “The Fall of Berlin.” I’ll have to look for it.

]]> By: M. Riva http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-607 M. Riva Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:13:13 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-607 People need to be aware of the Russian nationalist threat and should pay more attention to its cinema as evidence of that. I believe that is this article's point. People need to be aware of the Russian nationalist threat and should pay more attention to its cinema as evidence of that. I believe that is this article’s point.

]]> By: GhaleonQ http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-602 GhaleonQ Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:11:28 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-602 That's all on point, but I just see it as the most recent in over-the-top Russian blindness. That's far less threatening to me not because it's right-wing, but because it matters little politically (compare him to lefties in world cinema). Also, the movie's failure is that it's genuinely terrible. Not that-one-Chinese-history-of-Communism-stilted-mess bad, but awful. I'm also not sure it's of a piece. Tarkovskii's still far more influential than Mikhalkov, and he's been dead for years. That’s all on point, but I just see it as the most recent in over-the-top Russian blindness. That’s far less threatening to me not because it’s right-wing, but because it matters little politically (compare him to lefties in world cinema). Also, the movie’s failure is that it’s genuinely terrible. Not that-one-Chinese-history-of-Communism-stilted-mess bad, but awful. I’m also not sure it’s of a piece. Tarkovskii’s still far more influential than Mikhalkov, and he’s been dead for years.

]]> By: Looksoverpark http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-600 Looksoverpark Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:52:23 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-600 A very well-written, well-researched and interesting post Govindini. In many ways it highlights the dilemma faced by an artist who needs financing for film projects. Even where there is a well-established film industry, as in Hollywood, there can often be a political aspect to what gets financed. Where government financing is involved, it can create a great deal of suspicion among those who are not fully happy with the government they have about the motives of a film-maker who accepts funding from that government... Comparisions also arise in the example of the Oliver Stone movie about Chavez...it has also been a commercial failure. Not so much because it was financed by the Venezuala government, but because the president is so unpopular in his own country. I suppose the answer to the dilemma is to hope that things will balance out...that financing becomes available for a variety of points of view, the left, the right, pro-government and anti-government, with the film maker having the freedom to not only express himself but also having access to funding that does not compromise his principles and beliefs. This could lead to the production of films exhibiting a wide range of principles and beliefs just as these are exhibited in a typical cross-section of society. Regrettably production of films exhibiting such a wide range is not happening in either America or Russia in the present day. It all seems terribly out of balance and something needs to be done to get film-making back in balance in such a way that a variety of viewpoints is reflected in modern-day film. Nothing new to be saying on Libertas...seems to be something that you and Jason have been talking about for some time. Can't talk about it enough - maybe someday someone will do something about it! A very well-written, well-researched and interesting post Govindini. In many ways it highlights the dilemma faced by an artist who needs financing for film projects. Even where there is a well-established film industry, as in Hollywood, there can often be a political aspect to what gets financed. Where government financing is involved, it can create a great deal of suspicion among those who are not fully happy with the government they have about the motives of a film-maker who accepts funding from that government… Comparisions also arise in the example of the Oliver Stone movie about Chavez…it has also been a commercial failure. Not so much because it was financed by the Venezuala government, but because the president is so unpopular in his own country. I suppose the answer to the dilemma is to hope that things will balance out…that financing becomes available for a variety of points of view, the left, the right, pro-government and anti-government, with the film maker having the freedom to not only express himself but also having access to funding that does not compromise his principles and beliefs. This could lead to the production of films exhibiting a wide range of principles and beliefs just as these are exhibited in a typical cross-section of society. Regrettably production of films exhibiting such a wide range is not happening in either America or Russia in the present day. It all seems terribly out of balance and something needs to be done to get film-making back in balance in such a way that a variety of viewpoints is reflected in modern-day film. Nothing new to be saying on Libertas…seems to be something that you and Jason have been talking about for some time. Can’t talk about it enough – maybe someday someone will do something about it!

]]> By: showstopper http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-599 showstopper Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:08:52 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-599 Is it just me, or is this a really alarming development? What happened in Georgia could happen elsewhere. Putin doesn't need any more encouragement than he's already getting. Is it just me, or is this a really alarming development? What happened in Georgia could happen elsewhere. Putin doesn’t need any more encouragement than he’s already getting.

]]> By: K http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-598 K Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:51:40 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-598 I loved "The Fall of Berlin", the Soviet era movie detailing the Great Patriotic War and the hero workers who fought it. I'll be looking for "Burnt by the Sun 2" on DVD. I loved “The Fall of Berlin”, the Soviet era movie detailing the Great Patriotic War and the hero workers who fought it. I’ll be looking for “Burnt by the Sun 2″ on DVD.

]]> By: Tweets that mention A Dangerous New Nationalism in Russian Cinema? » LFM: Libertas Film Magazine -- Topsy.com http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/a-dangerous-new-nationalism-in-russian-cinema/comment-page-1/#comment-597 Tweets that mention A Dangerous New Nationalism in Russian Cinema? » LFM: Libertas Film Magazine -- Topsy.com Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:38:42 +0000 http://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/?p=4454#comment-597 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mr. K, Libertas Film Mag. Libertas Film Mag said: New LFM Post: A Dangerous New Nationalism in Russian Cinema? ... See: http://bit.ly/cHRNyg [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mr. K, Libertas Film Mag. Libertas Film Mag said: New LFM Post: A Dangerous New Nationalism in Russian Cinema? … See: http://bit.ly/cHRNyg [...]

]]>