POLIKUSCHKA

Classic Russian literature, above all Tolstoy and Chekhov, was in style around the world in the late 1950’s, thanks in part to several ground-breaking Soviet Thaw-era productions, which also enjoyed both critical and commercial success abroad. West Germany’s film industry knew how to take advantage of this trend too, with mastery: since its silent beginnings “Russiana” had established itself as a beloved genre among Germans. Brauner knew this – it’s not for nothing that CCC made its first venture into colour in this category. POLIKUSCHKA is Brauner’s most epic and ambitious effort in this form – a prestige project, whose planned world premiere at the Berlinale fell through because the film wasn’t considered German enough!