Alexandre SOKUROV
Александр СОКУРОВ
Alexandre SOKOUROV
Russia, 2009, 96mn 
Colour, documentary, TV
We Read the Book of the Blockade
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Читаем "Блокадную книгу"

 

 Lisons le "journal du blocus"

 Chitaem "Blokadnuyu knigu"

 
Directed by : Alexandre SOKUROV ( Александр СОКУРОВ)
Writing credits : Nadezhda GUSAROVA (Надежда ГУСАРОВА)
Based on Daniil Granin and Ales Adamovich
Cinematography : Aleksandr DEGTYAREV (Александр ДЕГТЯРЕВ), Aleksandr TARIN (Александр ТАРИН)
Production design : Unknown MOSIN (Неизвестный МОСИН), Yulia SUPRUN (Юлия СУПРУН)
Other persons :
Cast : Maia Klimenko, Ivan Krasko, Oleg Basilashvili, Boris Averin, Elena Shtopfen, Aleksandr Potapov, Lev Neimishev, Marina Moshkova, Kseniia Skachkova, Sergei Skorokhodov, Grogorii Gorbunov, Vladimir Kudrin, Maria Michelson, Mikhail Gaponov, Al’bert Saralp
Production : TV Kupol Ltd
 

Awards :
Best documentary serial National Documentary Awards : Laurel, Moscow (Russia), 2010

Plot synopsis
The film Citaem blokadnuju knigu is based on the book written by Russian authors— Daniil Granin and Ales Adamovich. In 1960-ies they wrote down the stories of people who lived and survived in the 900 days siege of Leningrad during the Second World War—honest and horrifying words about cold, bomb (attacks) and famine. In a small broadcasting studio people of different age—from children to very old people, of various background and professions— students, engineers, artists, actors, soldiers read pieces from the Book. While reading the “amateur actors,” mostly successful and happy people, experienced the feelings close to those of heroes of the book. Everyone had to ask himself and answer the question: how to be strong to survive and not to loose honor and dignity.
 

Commentaries and bibliography
Нарушенное молчание [О фильме Читаем блокадную книгу], Kiril ASS, seance.ru, 2011
Aleksandr Sokurov : We Read the Book of the Blockade (Chitaem blokadnuiu knigu, 2009), Polina BARSKOVA, kinokultura.com, 2010
 
Review by Polina Barskova on www.kinokultura.com/

Selected in the following festivals or events :
- War in contemporary Russian cinema, kinoglaz.fr (France), 2023
- Strasbourg two weeks of Russian cinema, Strasbourg (France), 2016
- Soirées du cinéma russe de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (France), 2011
- États généraux du film documentaire, Lussas (France), 2011
- International festival of independent cinema : BAFICI, Buenos Aires (Argentina), 2010
- Rotterdam International Film Festival, Rotterdam (Netherlands), 2010
- Saint Petersburg International Cine-Forum, St Petersburg (Russia), 2010
- National Documentary Awards : Laurel, Moscow (Russia), 2010
- International Art Documentary Film Festival "Artdocfest", Moscow (Russia), 2010
- Venice International Film Festival, Venice (Italy), 2009