Feature Film Competition

FRESKI
Frescoes
Alexander Gutman, RUSSIA, GERMANY, 2002, 96', col., 35mm
Director Alexander Gutman
Script Sergej Litviakov
Screenplay Alexander Gutman, Sergej Litviakov
Cinematography Nikolaj Volkov, Alexander Gutman, Alexander Burov, Sergej Skvortsov
Editing Alexander Gutman
Music Djivan Gasparian
Production Alexander Gutman, T&Gfilms

Frescoes was filmed in the city of Giumri in Armenia, a place which was almost destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in 1988. Ironically after the tragedy, Armenia became independent. The earthquake destroyed the city, dramatically replacing it with another: a cemetery. The film follows the existence of Varuz, a young boy, a priest and two employees of the cemetery. Varuz is anxious to live, and without letting himself fall into self pity he is able to infect the people surrounding him with his optimism, not allowing the city of death to gain the upper hand over its survivors.

DIRECTOR
Alexander Gutman graduated from the Moscow Institute of Cinematography in 1978. He has worked as a cameraman, scriptwriter and producer in Russia and Finland, making his debut in 1985 with "Pyramid". He received a lot of recognition with his following films, participating in numerous festivals both abroad and in his homeland.

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