The director of the film, 'The bitter taste of freedom', talks about her character

A film about Anna Politkovskaya, 'The Bitter taste of freedom', has conquered New York and come to Russia. It was directed by Marina Goldovskaya, who was personally acquainted with Politkovskaya and wanted to show the journalist not as the well-known human rights activist, but as a simple Russian woman. Darya Zlotnikova continues the theme.

Marina Goldovskaya filmed this movie for 30 years. She talked with Politkovskaya at home in her kitchen, pickeding random shots from the journalist's travels and reading letters from Chechnya together with her.

At the premiere of the film during New York Documentary Film Week, Marina Goldovskaya said that Politkovskaya, who was considered an 'iron lady', was actually a gentle and vulnerable woman who very keenly felt people's pain.

“There are people with a sensitive skin, and there those who are thick-skinned, and then there are those without any skin,” Goldovskaya said. “She had no skin. None at all. This is what kind of person she was.”

Anna Politkovskaya was always at the forefront of political life in Russia. She got her 'bitter taste of freedom' from perestroika, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the hostages at 'Nord-Ost'. She was not just a journalist, but also a human rights activist: helping the mothers of soldiers killed in Chechnya and investigating corruption at the Ministry of Defense and the joint headquarters for federal forces in Chechnya. In front of Marina Goldovskaya's camera, Anna Politkovskaya told why she got involved in all of it.

Anna Politkovskaya was known for her harsh and emotional criticism of the authorities. She very specifically stated that she took a dislike to Mr. Putin because of his cynicism, racism, lies, and the perpetual war. According to political analyst Kirill Koktysh, Russians want to hear from people like Politkovskaya, especially right now between the two election campaigns.

“It is very clear that the public wants diversity and demands multiple points of view on one and the same problem,” he says. “Moreover, Politkovskaya was a very respected journalist. They always pick heroes, who, in one way or another, give an alternative to Putin's point of view.”

In Moscow, the movie 'The bitter taste of freedom' will only be shown at two theaters, and those will almost be empty, according to Alexander Izotov, president of the Tsar Pictures movie company.

“No one is going to roll this film, and audiences who go to the cinema will not find this film at all interesting, because this kind of a film is made for TV,” he said. “In general, no one wants this movie, it's only for a few friends who will show up for the PR.”

Films about the victims of the political regime in the Kremlin are now one of the hottest topics for western filmmakers. After Tuschi in Germany made a movie about Khodorkovsky, and Goldovskaya in America a film about Politkovskaya, we must await a new premier. Political analysts believe that the next film hero will be Artyom Borovik.

The International Documentary Association intends to nominate 'The bitter taste of freedom' for an Oscar.

In Kommersant FM

Comments (1)

1. KpGeTFPcFVF Written by Alex , on 28-06-2012 22:56 thanks for this review kara. I reeembmr being so sad to hear of Anna's death but too soon we forget such sacrifices. I will find a way to see this film. It sounds very sad but also very inspiring and a great tribute to such an important, fearless and impassioned journalist. Report

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