Father and Son (2003) Otets i syn (original title)

Director:

Aleksandr Sokurov

Writer:

Sergei Potepalov (writer)

Release Date:

12 September 2003 (Russia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Whisper your fears to running water . . .

Plot:

Father (Andrej Shetinin) and Son (Alexei Nejmyshev) live together in a rooftop apartment. They have lived alone for years in their own private world...

Plot Keywords:

Nightmare | Memory | Rooftop | Ritual | Pain

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Andrei Shchetinin	...	Father
Aleksei Neymyshev	...	Aleksei, the Son
Aleksandr Razbash	...	Sasha
Fyodor Lavrov	...	Fyodor
Marina Zasukhina	...	Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anna Aleksakhina
Jaime Freitas
João Gonçalves
Svetlana Svirko

Directed by
Aleksandr Sokurov

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sergei Potepalov		writer

Produced by
Fernando Centeio	....	line producer
Roberto Cicutto	....	co-producer
Igor Kalyonov	....	co-producer
Thomas Kufus	....	producer
Luigi Musini	....	co-producer
Hengameh Panahi	....	co-producer
Claudia Spiller	....	line producer
Ineke van Wierst	....	co-producer
Els Vandevorst	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Andrey Sigle

Cinematography by
Aleksandr Burov

Production Design by
Natalya Kochergina

Production Management
Conny Neetenbeek	....	post-production manager
Joana Synek	....	production manager

Sound Department
Sergei Moshkov	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Paulo Jorge Barata	....	second assistant camera
Rolf Rosendahl	....	assistant camera

Other crew
Jaime Freitas	....	production assistant
Susana Marques	....	production assistant

Thanks
Andrey Deryabin	....	special thanks
Michael Schmid-Ospach	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Nikola Film
• Isabella Films B.V.
• Lumen Films
• Mikado Film
• Zero Film GmbH

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (2004) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Gemini Films (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Seagull Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kinokuniya (2006) (Japan) (DVD) (box-set)
• Moskwood Media (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prodimag (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Wellspring Media (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• good movies! (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Otets i syn" - Russia (original title)

Runtime:

France:83 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Russia:97 min | USA:82 min (Wellspring DVD)

Country:

Russia | Germany | Italy | Netherlands

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Italy:T | Singapore:R(A) | Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Lisbon, Portugal

Company:

Nikola Film

Movie Connections:

Follows Mother and Son (1997)

Once in a While a Great Master Appears: Aleksandr Sokurov

Aleksandr Sokurov is as artist of the highest order. Not only does he understand his medium of film as his chosen avenue of creating art, he has the gifts of ingenuity, fresh creativity, and daring that make his works unique and stunning without any of the hoopla of 'experimental' filmmakers: Sokurov honors his humanity and celebrates the miracle of life with every stroke of his hand.

For those first introduced to Sokurov by viewing his extraordinary Russian ARK, a film of such importance historically as well as culturally and artistically that it stands alone: the conception and pre-camera preparation of covering 300 years of Russian history as played out in the Hermitage Museum buildings allowed this master to turn on the camera and record non-stop for the hour and a half of the complete story. The result is breathtakingly beautiful and enormously educational and enlightening - all that one can ask from a work of art.

In FATHER AND SON Sokurov has distilled all of his energy into a quiet, rhapsodic, sensually elegant examination of the relationship between a father and son. There is not much story: there is much being said. A father (the handsome and sensual Andrei Shchetinin) lives with his son Aleksei (Aleksei Nejmyshev - as handsome and virile and tender as Shchetinin) in a rooftop flat in St. Petersberg. The father has had a military career and the son is now at age 19 in military school studying medicine along with his training. The mother is dead and the father and son are closely bonded by her absence and by an amazing love for each other.

Aleksei has had a girlfriend (the incandescently beautiful Marina Zasukhina) but seeing that she is competing unsuccessfully for Aleksei's love for his father, she informs him she has found another love. Another young military student Sasha (Aleksandr Razbash) observes the strong bond between Aleksei and his father and being without a father, asks to move in their flat. Knowing that their time as unified family is limited by the way life passes, the two remain living alone.

Aleksei has dreams that approach nightmares but generally deal with separation anxiety. The father is always there to console Aleksei after his dreams and gently encourages him to pursue the life that will bring him happiness.

And that is really the bulk of the story, simple and short as it may sound. The brilliance of Sokurov's genius is in his means of telling this simple tale. He has elected to film using varying lenses and limiting his color spectrum to the sepia tones that resemble daguerreotypes come to life. His use of moments of Tchaikovsky melodies is sensitive and additive to the mood. His ability to linger over extended physical embraces between this father and son says more about love than any filmmaker before him. Part of the magic he creates is due to the physical beauty of the two actors embracing in the nude in the soft winter light of their rooftop flat.

Some viewers have found this homo-erotic and are concerned about that aspect of a father with son. A pity, that, being concerned about homo-eroticism: the passion between father and son should be able to be viewed on every level for its richness, not for the fear of censorship.

FATHER AND SON is one of the most beautiful artworks on film I have ever viewed. I felt the same about Russian ARK. I eagerly await viewing his MOTHER AND SON and all the other works that hopefully will flow from Sokurov's gifted mind and talent. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 2005