The Desert of Forbidden Art (2010)

Risking being denounced as an 'enemy of the people,' Igor Savitsky rescues 40,000 forbidden fellow artists' works and creates in a far desert of Soviet Uzbekistan a museum now worth millions.

Directors:

Tchavdar Georgiev, Amanda Pope

Writers:

Amanda Pope, Tchavdar Georgiev

Stars:

Edward Asner, Sally Field, Ben Kingsley

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Edward Asner	...	(voice) (as Ed Asner)
Sally Field	...	(voice)
Ben Kingsley	...	Igor Savitsky (voice)
Igor Paramonov	...	(voice)

Storyline

The Desert of Forbidden Art is a sweeping look at decades of Soviet repression of the arts and Igor Savitsky's one man campaign to rescue 40,000 works of banned politically volatile artists. In complete defiance of the regime, he creates in a remote desert of Uzbekistan one of the most important collections of Russian art.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Russia USA Uzbekistan

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

11 March 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

I erimos tis apagorevmenis tehnis

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Truth Stranger than Fiction

In the midst of a totalitarian dictatorship, an eccentric man risks his life and uses his wiles to save what he values far more than his society does. What, you mean you've already seen "Schindler's List?!" But what if, instead of saving people, the man just saved art - tons and tons of splendid art?

This amazing story, with characters as wild and bizarre and wonderful as any you'll see in any flick, is terrifying, heartwarming, funny, and hugely human. Even if you're not an art-lover, this tale tells so much about our times, there's no way to not be moved.

It's both a good and bad thing that this came out in a time when there were so many important and excellent documentaries that this got ignored by the Oscars. It's a movie for everyone - take your grandmother and your kids. Cannot recommend it enough.