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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 25 OctOber 2017

Film about Russian czar’s affair

premieres despite hostility

By NATALIYA VASILYEVA finances and investigate ie theaters have report-
Associated Press him for incitement of reli- ed receiving anonymous
MOSCOW (AP) — A film gious hatred. threats vowing revenge
about the last Russian czar’s The controversy around the on those who smear the
affair with a ballerina had film reflects the increasing czar’s memory. Russia’s
its Moscow premiere Tues- assertiveness of radical reli- largest cinema chain said it
day despite sparking out- gious activists in Russia and had contacted police and
In this Monday, March 2, 2015 file photo provided by Rock Films rage among some Russians a growing conservative would not be showing the
studio Polish actress Michalina Olszanska in the role of Matilda
Kshesinskaya in a scene from the film “Matilda”, by Russian that has been expressed streak in Russian society movie because of safety
director Alexei Uchitel in St.Petersburg, Russia. through pickets, arson, and that worries many mem- concerns. The chain even-
Associated Press Molotov cocktails hurled at bers of the nation’s artistic tually decided to screen
a movie studio. community. the film after all after re-
“Matilda” has drawn fierce The czar and his family were ceiving assurances from
criticism from hard-line na- executed by a Bolshevik fir- police. Four people were
tionalists and some Ortho- ing squad in July 1918. The arrested after several cars
dox believers who consider Russian Orthodox Church outside the office of Uchi-
it blasphemous. The Russian made them saints in 2000. tel’s attorney were set on
Orthodox Church glorifies Uchitel recalled during an fire in September. The sus-
Emperor Nicholas II, who interview with The Associ- pects included Alexander
was executed with his fam- ated Press his shock at see- Kalinin, the leader of an
ily by Bolsheviks in 1918, as ing a note at a Moscow obscure Christian Orthodox
a saint. church seeking signatures group who publicly con-
Although most Russians ac- for a petition against the doned the vandalism.
cept that the affair hap- movie. What upsets him Poklonskaya denied being
pened, they maintain the most is that the protests connected to alleged ar-
movie’s depiction is dis- started after the first trailer’s sonists and threat-makers.
torted and vulgar. The film release, month before the “An Orthodox believer will
loosely follows the story of film itself would be seen. never commit a crime. He
the czar’s infatuation with The filmmaker said he met will go and pray and file
prima ballerina Matilda with Poklonskaya earlier this complaints about crimes,”
Kshesinskaya. year to defuse the tensions she said.
What started out nearly a and asked her to at least Despite the recent arrests
year ago as a campaign see the movie first. and the police’s willingness
to collect signatures to pro- “As soon as I’ve offered it to provide extra security at
test the film’s release took to her, I heard, ‘No, I’m not movie theaters, the film’s
on violent forms in recent going to watch it.’ I didn’t Polish and German leading
months. have anything else to tell actors are not taking part
Two cars were set on fire her,” Uchitel said. in any promotional events
outside the office of the di- Poklonskaya says that be- in Russia.
rector’s lawyer. Signs read- cause Nicholas II is a saint, “They are really scared of
ing “Burn for Matilda” were his private life is off-limits. physical violence against
reportedly found nearby. “Does this film teach pa- them, that’s why they’re
Unidentified assailants triotism? Does it teach you not going to come, and it’s
threw Molotov cocktails at to love your motherland? I not just an excuse,” Uchitel
director Alexei Uchitel’s stu- don’t think so,” she told the said.
dio. AP earlier this month. “You “Matilda” was shown to
Uchitel said a few hours be- need to respect people. a selected audience on
fore the premiere that just Freedom without bounds is Monday at St. Petersburg’s
getting the movie in front lawlessness and chaos.” Mariinsky Theater, where
of a theater audience was The lawmaker also thinks Kshesinskaya danced 100
an achievement. Uchitel should be account- years ago. Outside, several
“It’s not just a victory for the able to Russian taxpayers people read prayers and
film, but it’s a victory for all who might be offended displayed placards oppos-
reasonable people.” by the film because the ing the movie.
Russian lawmaker Natalya production received state “How will the director look
Poklonskaya, who served funding. Uchitel said one- God in the eyes? They spit
as the chief regional pros- third of the budget for in the czar’s face, and it’s
ecutor in Crimea follow- “Matilda” came from state the same as spitting in the
ing its 2014 annexation by coffers. face of our people,” pro-
Moscow, spearheaded the Poklonskaya said she has tester Natalya Radysh said.
campaign to ban “Matil- been such a devoted an- Uchitel said he invited the
da.” ti-”Matilda” campaigner critics inside to see the film
Poklonskaya sent numer- because of 100,000 voters so they would have a bet-
ous complaints about Uchi- who signed petitions who ter basis on which to con-
tel and his film company to felt their “rights were vio- demn it, but they declined.
various law enforcement lated,” adding: “Religious “Maybe if they had
bodies, urging them to feelings have been hurt.” watched, there would be
audit his taxes, review his Uchitel, his team, and mov- no placards,” he said.q