I AM TWENTY

The “Massif Central of the cinema of the Thaw” (Olaf Möller): no one aside from Nikita Khrushchev saw the original version, after a scathing review in Pravda led to censorship and cuts. In spite of the crude treatment of his exhilarating mix of sound and moving image, the elegance of Khutsiev’s visual language in pursuit of maximum authenticity (for his heroes, their youth and their time) never got lost. Together with his courtyard friends, serious Kolya and the young father Slava, fatherless Sergey explores Moscow’s Thaw-era topography, between legendary poetry readings and party scene, May Day demonstration and first love, swingin’, jazzy, contemplative. The guidepost of the new guard. After the screening, Anna Malgina (Gosfilmofond) will show material (about 20 min) that was not included in any of the realised versions, with commentary from Marlen Khutsiev.