The Wedding
A film by Pavel Lounguine
With Marat Basharov, Maria Mironova, Andrei Panine, Alexandre Semtchev, Vladimir Simonov, Maria Goloubkina N° Visa 97.532 Running Time 1H54′Theatrical release September 2000
Synopsis
Schistes is a small coal mine village near Moskow. Today is a big day for Michka Krapivine : he marries Tania Simakova that he always loved, even if she came back after several years spent in Moskow as a “mannequin”. By luck, the same day, wages, that had not been given for six months, will be given ; but people have to wait their turn on the place, in the middle of the crowd where everybody knows that there won’t be enough money for all and where everybody wants to be served first. In the Krapivine family, nobody is happy about this marriage. Krapivine’s father, village’s hero, covered with medals by communism, feels forced to feed all these “invited persons” and therefore fears to lose his pension up to the last kopeck. The grand-father looks defavourably on “this fany whore” entering is family and Antonina, Michka’s mother, weeps on her son’s destiny. Michka is only anxious about one thing : to give a present to his future wife : he will spend his salary for that. But his salary, it’s his father who takes it to pay the “steaks” of the wedding. Faced to this injustice, all the coal mine team subscribe to allow him to buy a present. To avoid another deduction by his father, Michka entrusts the money to his closest friend Garkoucha. Unfortunately, Garkoucha drinks the money. Thanks to the few savings of his mother, Michka can eventually buy a few flowers. He comes happily to Tania’s home. The former lover of Tania, Borodine, a rich businessman, has come to take her back to Moskow.Tania doesn’t want and refuses his beautiful present. From then on, the police chief, Borzov, whose power and ambition are served by corruption, will make the most to avoid the wedding by trapping Michka and sending him to jail… away from Tania. Events will then follow one another with sometimes fun and sometimes tragedy in order to save Michka from jail… thanks to love, generosity and friendship.
Cast
Marat – Basharov Michka Maria – Mironova Tania Andrei – Panin Gacoucha Alexandre – Semtchev Borzov Vladimir – Simonov Borodin Maria – Goloubkina Sveta Natalia – Koliakanova Rimma Elena – Novikova Zoika Andrei – Panine Garkusha
Image Gallery
Credits
Screenplay – Alexandre Galine & Pavel Lounguine Director of Photography – Alexander Burov Editors – Sophie Brunet Production Designer – Ilia Amursky Sound – Alain Curvelier Music – Vladimir Chekassine Producer Catherine Dussart CDP Coproduction Film Studio Mosfilm Service, Arte France Cinéma, West Deutscher Rundfunk, Lichtblick Cologne, Canal +, Centre National de la Cinématographie and Filmbüro Nw Worldwide Distributors Pyramide Productions Theatrical Distributor Skouras Films French Distributor : Pyramide International sales : FPI TV Broadcast : Canal + / ARTE
Festivals
Official Selection Cannes Film Festival 2000 – Award : Interpretation’s Prize of all the Actors Lichtblick International film Festival Moscow International film Festival (Russia) Montreal International film Festival (Canada) Toronto International film Festival (Canada) Pusan International film Festival (Russia) Russian Film Festival in NY (USA) London International film Festival (UK) Tromso International film Festival (Norway) Goteborg International film Festival (Suèden) Cleveland International film Festival (USA) Hong Kong International film Festival Istanbul International film Festival (Turkey) Seattle International film Festival (USA) Karlovy Vary International film Festival (Tcheque Republic) Haifa International film Festival (Israël) Transilvania International film Festival