Beanpole

Kantemir Balagov, Russia, 2019

137minutes, Russian with English Subtitles

1945, Leningrad. World War II has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Although the siege – one of the worst in history – is finally over, life and death continue their battle in the wreckage that remains. Two young women, Iya and Masha, search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.26-year-old Kantemir Balagov follows TESNOTA, winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, with a powerful period drama.

DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Kantemir Balagov was born in Nalchik, Russia, in 1991. Beanpole marks his second feature film, Balagov having made his directorial debut With closeness (2017), which premiered At the Cannes Film Festival in un certain Regard and was awarded the Fipresci Prize. Balagov graduated from alexander Sokurov’s Directing workshop at Kabardino-Balkarian State university in 2015. During his Studies, he made a number of fiction and Documentary films which took part in various Domestic and international events. Beanpole (2019) has been selected for The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival, in un certain regard.

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