Pavel Lungin (b.1949)Pavel Lungin (b.1949)

Son of a Son of a scriptwriterscriptwriterEducated first Educated first as a linguist, as a linguist, then as a film then as a film directordirectorDanelia’s Danelia’s studentstudentSince early Since early 1990s,lives in 1990s,lives in France, but France, but makes films in makes films in RussiaRussiaDirector, Director, scriptwriter, scriptwriter, producerproducer

Selected FilmographySelected FilmographyTaxi-BluesTaxi-Blues (1990) Starring Piotr Mamonov, an (1990) Starring Piotr Mamonov, an underground singerunderground singerLuna-ParkLuna-Park (1992) (1992)The Line of LifeThe Line of Life (1996) (1996)The WeddingThe Wedding (2000) (2000)The OligarchThe Oligarch (2002) (2002)The Case of “The Dead Souls”The Case of “The Dead Souls” (TV series, 2005) (TV series, 2005)Poor RelativesPoor Relatives (2005) (2005)The IslandThe Island (2006) Starring Piotr Mamonov (2006) Starring Piotr MamonovIvan the Terrible and Metropolitan PhilipIvan the Terrible and Metropolitan Philip (forthcoming) (forthcoming)

The Wedding The Wedding (2000)(2000)Drama/comedy. Despite the title, not a love-story. Drama/comedy. Despite the title, not a love-story. Moral conflicts and daily survival of ordinary Moral conflicts and daily survival of ordinary people.people.In the times of disintegrated values, the theme of In the times of disintegrated values, the theme of brotherhood and coming together (younger and brotherhood and coming together (younger and older generations; Christians, non-believers and older generations; Christians, non-believers and Muslims; working people and oligarchs; police and Muslims; working people and oligarchs; police and petty criminals).petty criminals).Ironic vs serious: inversion of values of Socialist Ironic vs serious: inversion of values of Socialist Realism; non-didactic, non-judgmental.Realism; non-didactic, non-judgmental.Uncensored: sex and alcohol as subversive Uncensored: sex and alcohol as subversive elements.elements.Reality vs “realism”: “unfiltered" take on reality, Reality vs “realism”: “unfiltered" take on reality, swearing (rus.swearing (rus.матмат), hardship, chaos. Hand-held ), hardship, chaos. Hand-held camera: the viewers become “a part” of the crowd.camera: the viewers become “a part” of the crowd.

The Wedding The Wedding (2000)(2000)The action takes place in a small town of coal-minersThe action takes place in a small town of coal-minersCentral characters:Central characters:

Tania, the bride: a top-model coming back to her Tania, the bride: a top-model coming back to her native town to escape her oligarch lover and to native town to escape her oligarch lover and to marry her childhood suitor.marry her childhood suitor.Misha, the groom: a young miner, in love with Tania Misha, the groom: a young miner, in love with Tania since school. Gives all his money to parents, can’t since school. Gives all his money to parents, can’t even buy a wedding present for Tania.even buy a wedding present for Tania.Garkusha, Misha’s never-sober old buddy, brings Garkusha, Misha’s never-sober old buddy, brings picaresque elements to the film (picaresque elements to the film (picaresquepicaresque - “satiric - “satiric prose fiction … depicting in realistic, often humorous prose fiction … depicting in realistic, often humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social degree living by his or her wits in a corrupt society.”)degree living by his or her wits in a corrupt society.”)