Scandal around "Matilda": why public figures demand to ban a historical film from showing. The scandal around "Matilda": the examination did not find anything offensive in the film How does Matilda offend the feelings of believers
: the author of the picture said that the examination, which was carried out in St. Petersburg state university, did not find in it elements that offend anyone's feelings (State Duma deputy Natalya Poklonskaya insists on this, seeking to ban the film).
The film "Matilda" is now definitely the most discussed in Russia. With these words, the creators of the picture entered the press conference room. “I would never have thought that I would hold such a press conference about a film that you have not seen,” said director Alexei Uchitel.
Another reason to talk not about the filming process, but about the legal status of the tape, now certainly the last one. Today, the director's lawyers for the first time published the results of a thorough examination of the entire, not yet released picture.
“To summarize what the experts said: the film does not offend anyone’s feelings, does not demean a group of people on any grounds, does not promote pornography, violence, cruelty, and does not contain signs and elements of crimes,” lawyer Konstantin Dobrynin stated.
The detailed conclusion took several pages. The experts gave answers to nine questions, the essence of which was reduced to only one: can Feature Film offend the feelings of believers. But it was with the candid shots that it all started: the first trailer of the film outraged the so-called Orthodox social activists - they say, excessive eroticism vulgarized the story, and all the filmmakers distorted it.
Then there was an appeal to the deputy Natalya Poklonskaya, and after that - a request for verification to the fullest extent. The more they checked, the more the activists believed: the film, which has not yet been released, is a direct insult. "The intensity of passions was provoked by the number of letters that got into cinemas with threats of burning these cinemas if they release this picture for hire," says CEO company "Karoprokat" Alexey Ryazantsev.
Aleksey Uchitel himself says: he met with Poklonskaya several times, and all the conversations came down to one thing - they say, "it's not good to make a film about a person who is canonized as a saint," all the more so to embellish the plot with artistic digressions from real history. “They will check every line of the script, whether it corresponds to the film. And if not, then what?” - Alexei Uchitel argues. It's only 25 percent."
Initially, the picture was conceived as a story about famous ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya, but later the script was reworked. The main character was the future Emperor Nicholas II. All the events told in the tape are his way of ascension to the throne, with inherent human tragedy, self-sacrifice and love affairs. Starting work on the film, Alexei Uchitel did not suspect that the resonance would be such, and now he never tires of reminding: "Matilda" is not a historical, but an artistic film, with an age limit of "16+".
Directed by Alexei Uchitel is by far the most scandalous film premiere of 2017. What is the film about and why is it being banned? Why does Poklonskaya think that watching Matilda is a sin? How did a film with pretense of historical drama cause controversy and a reputation for being almost extremist?
So what is the movie "Matilda" about? The plot of the film is about relationships. the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II with a Russian ballet dancer of Polish origin, prima ballerina Mariinsky Theater Matilda Kshesinskaya. love line Nicholas II with Matilda Kshesinskaya, according to sources, took place even before the ascension of Nicholas Romanov to the throne as emperor and before his marriage to Alexandra Feodorovna.
Why scandal? The combination of several factors merged together, and this is an insult to the feelings of believers, multiplied by historical inaccuracies, plus the personal protest of Natalia Poklonskaya. Firstly, the Russian Orthodox Church rebelled against the screening of the film, calling the story a fiction. Secondly, Nicholas II in 2000 were classified as Russian Orthodox Church to the face of the saints, which, as it were, hints: what kind of extramarital affair with a saint are you talking about? Third, the main wave of indignation was stirred up by none other than Natalya Poklonskaya - the prosecutor of the Republic of Crimea, a member of the United Russia party and a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. Poklonskaya is outraged by everything in the film - the plot, cast, and of course, a hint about, as she put it, "fornication".
In her interviews with the media, Poklonskaya has repeatedly spoken out about why she wants to ban this film. State Duma deputy called it extremist, discrediting the honor of "our sovereign". Here is one of latest quotes about movie:
“I will note the need to take measures to recognize the plot of the film “Matilda” about the “fornication” of the Holy Pleaser of God and the Sovereign Russian Empire, presented by a German porn actor promoting Satanism, - extremist material, which actually leads to manifestations of extremism on the part of the detained persons, ”Regnum quotes Poklonskaya as saying.
The closer the premiere of the film, the more heated the atmosphere around him. Let us recall earlier reports about mass prayers in the churches of Russia - with the aim of turning to the Almighty, so that he would help in the ban on Matilda. For the time being, the ROC did not use aggressive methods of pressure on the government, limiting itself to prayers for a ban, public statements, and the like. Now extreme measures are used by pseudo-activists, hiding behind the Church.
It is already not known for certain who provoked whom to persecute the film by Alexei Uchitel - the Poklonskaya Church, or the Poklonskaya Church, but the Matilda scandal has given rise to dangerous speculation on the subject. So, the day before, an “Orthodox activist” was already detained - Alexander Kalinin, leader of the organization "Christian State" . He was detained for threatening cinemas with arson - if they show Matilda, KP reports.
"Burn for Matilda"- these are the leaflets that were scattered at the entrance to the office of the director Alexei Uchitel's lawyer, which were discovered after the car was set on fire. According to Vesti, the incident occurred on September 11, and a criminal case was opened on the fact of arson. Now the suspects - three of them, including Kalinin - have been detained.
This is not to say that threats do not work."From sin" whether, or in order to maintain a reputation - who knows, but the first refusals from "Matilda" have already thundered. It is reported that two major film distribution networks have already refused to distribute the film - “ Formula Kino" And "Cinema Park".
By the way, the main opponent of the film, Natalya Poklonskaya, has already commented on the situation with arson and threats:
“The absolutely legal situation with the film Matilda is being used by someone for purposes that have nothing to do with protecting our history and the Faith. manifestation of extremism in this issue this is part of a specific plan aimed at destabilizing society, separating people, discrediting Orthodox believers, ”Poklonskaya said.
Of course, this is not a way out - to fight the "extremist film" with extremist methods. Vladimir Medinsky agrees with this.
But what about the Ministry of Culture? Many, if not outraged, then at least surprised the aloofness of the Ministry of Culture from the Matilda scandal. After the latest absurd events with arson, the head of the Ministry of Culture, Vladimir Medinsky, nevertheless spoke about the film, saying that The Ministry of Culture can no longer stand aside:
“I am often reproached for being too conservative. And as a conservative, I want to say: such self-styled "activists" discredit the state cultural policy, and the Church "- quotes" KP "Medinsky's words -" I do not know what considerations the respected Mrs. Poklonskaya is guided by, starting and supporting this hubbub. Maybe from pure heart. Moreover, he is not ready to unravel the motivations of various “activists”-arsonists who brazenly call themselves “Orthodox”
It is worth noting that Medinsky himself looked at the picture and noted that in "Matilda" there is nothing offensive to the memory of Nicholas II.
Poklonskaya, apparently, does not intend to give up, arguing that the Teacher will answer in court before the descendants of the Romanov dynasty.
How was the film rated by caring viewers? There was a month left before the premiere of the film, however, the first screenings had already been held - in Vladivostok. On September 20, Matilda is expected to be shown in Novosibirsk, and residents of Astrakhan will also see the movie earlier.
Before the premiere of the new film by Alexei Uchitel even more three months, but he has already managed to earn the title of perhaps the most scandalous Russian painting recent decades. Why did the film, which tells about the first love of Emperor Nicholas II, so outraged the public
Shot from the film "Matilda"
At the center of the story love relationship Tsarevich Nikolai Romanov, the future of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. However, their relationship did not last long - namely, until his coronation with future wife Alexandra Federovna. Rumor has it that the ballerina and Nicholas II even had a daughter.
After a relationship with Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, Matilda was the mistress of another Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich, and later married another representative of the royal house - Grand Duke Andrei Romanov. All this time she successfully brought up illegitimate son. After the revolution of 1917, she left Russia forever.
Young Nicholas II with Matilda Kshesinskaya The fate of Kshesinskaya, like her biography, is very rich and curious. Born in St. Petersburg, she was the prima ballerina of the imperial theaters and simply an influential person, with whom powerful men from noble families easily fell in love. Aleksey Uchitel invited the Polish actress Mikhalina Olshanskaya to play the role of the main character, the German theater and film actor Lars Eidinger played Emperor Nicholas II. Among the star names familiar to the ear of the Russian audience: Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Evgeny Mironov, Sergey Garmash, Danila Kozlovsky and Grigory Dobrygin.
The picture was originally conceived and positioned by the Teacher as a large-scale historical reconstruction: the Assumption Cathedral of that time, the Palace on the River Pontoon and the interiors of the Imperial train cars were painstakingly recreated especially for filming. Filming for the most part took place at the Mariinsky Theater, in the Catherine, Alexander, Yusupov and Elaginoostrovsky palaces. The film's budget is $25 million, which is simply a huge amount for Russian cinema.
What (or who) started the protests against the painting
Alexey Uchitel started filming the historical drama back in 2014, and then everyone was waiting only for details about the new creation of the eminent director. When the production of the film came to its logical conclusion, the public was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of aggressive objections and demands for a ban on the film's screening and even the end of its production. Perhaps the first trailer for the film, which could have seemed somewhat provocative, was to blame for everything - it was from the moment of its appearance that complaints rained down.
Among the main dissatisfied were members of the social movement " Royal Cross”, who actively accused the Teacher and his painting of slandering Tsar Nicholas II and his royal family. It was with them that a large-scale “flash mob” began against the release of the film. The "Royal Cross" turned to State Duma deputy Natalya Poklonskaya for support, and then the scandal received really wide publicity.
“In the film“ Matilda ”, Tsar Nicholas II is depicted not as he really was. The love between Matilda Kshesinskaya and Tsar Nicholas II was platonic, not lustful. Also, under the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, the economic and social situation was better compared to the current situation in Russia,” the public activists said in an official statement.
Natalya Poklonskaya. Photo: lenta.ru Natalya Poklonskaya, in turn, quite expectedly sided with the "Royal Cross" and twice sent a request to the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation to check "Matilda" for extremism. However, in both cases, the audit found no violations. In 2016, Runet also joined the protests - a petition appeared on the Change.org website to ban the film in Russia.
Shot from the film "Matilda" However, Poklonskaya did not stop there either - at the end of January 2017, she was sent a deputy request to the Prosecutor General's Office in order to verify the legality of spending the funds allocated by the Cinema Fund for the creation of the picture. It is obvious that Poklonskaya wanted to remove the film from the rental in other ways - and the fact that dozens of frankly failed and financed by the Cinema Fund, second-rate blockbuster parodies are released annually in Russia does not seem to bother the deputy.
But this was not the end of the epic - already in April, a letter was sent to an expert commission to evaluate the script and trailer of the film. The members of the commission, quite expectedly, saw in them a lot of critical remarks: from moral character king to the ugly and "dishonest" appearance of his beloved. The commission's verdict was not long in coming: the film depicts a false image of St. Nicholas II, and also offends the feelings of believers. The results were again sent to the Prosecutor General's Office.
Shot from the film "Matilda" Discontent is growing to this day - for example, just yesterday there were reports in the media that the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, sent an appeal to the Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky with a request not to show the film by Alexei Uchitel "Matilda" in the republic. The text of the appeal notes that such a decision was made after reading the information received from Natalia Poklonskaya about thousands of statements by Orthodox and Muslims about insulting religious feelings believers storyline movie.
Who supported the rental of "Matilda"
Of course, such a scandal attracts public attention, especially if we are talking about the movie. Many film critics and Uchitel's fans say it's premature to pass judgment on a film that hasn't been released yet. Cultural figures considered it their duty to come out in support of the film: film director Stanislav Govorukhin, chairman of the Duma Committee on Culture, criticized the idea of checking the film, adding that such initiatives should be interrupted in the bud.
In response to numerous attacks, more than forty Russian filmmakers wrote an open letter, including Pavel Lungin, Alexander Proshkin, Alexander Gelman, Vitaly Mansky, Andrey Smirnov and others. It is noteworthy that the Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, who personally visited the shooting of the picture several times, also supported Matilda.
Shot from the film "Matilda" What does Alexey Uchitel think?
The director of "Matilda" called the discussion around him new painting useless and unnecessary.
“Honestly, I'm already tired of Mrs. Poklonskaya's war with me and the entire film crew. Instead of calmly finishing the film, I am forced to be distracted by nonsense, nonsense and insults, ”said the director. “A film will come out, everyone will watch it, and only then will it be possible to discuss it.”
The producer of the film, Alexander Dostman, also believes: “People who have not seen the film, and no one except the working group has seen it, cannot draw any conclusions - this is ridiculous, some kind of comedy, amazing stupidity. And it’s even more surprising that everyone follows Natalia Poklonskaya’s lead, reckon with her opinion, I have already ceased to be surprised by her. This is a movie about beautiful love. Regardless of whether Tsar Nicholas is or not, he is a man, and a man, what, cannot love?
By the way, Konstantin Dobrynin, the lawyer of director Alexei Uchitel, appealed to the ethics commission of the State Duma of Russia with a response complaint against the activities of deputy Natalia Poklonskaya. He declares Poklonskaya's "unfounded accusations" against the Teacher, as well as the "use of knowingly false information and calls for illegal actions" against the creators of the film "Matilda". Thus, between Poklonskaya and the Teacher, a real Civil War. Only one thing remains clear in this situation - despite all the scandals around the picture, the film will premiere on the scheduled date.
When will the movie be released in theaters
The premiere is scheduled for October 26, 2017, it will be held at the Mariinsky Theater - where at the beginning of the 20th century she performed main character movie Matilda Kshesinskaya. The film's music producer was artistic director and General Director of the Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev.
This story began in November 2016, and the scandals around it have not subsided to this day. Although only the lazy did not speak on this topic, Caspart does not lag behind the trends and, having brought together the main facts and opinions about the film, dedicated to the novel the last Tsar of the Russian Empire Nicholas II and the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya, together with readers, is trying to understand whether there are right and wrong here.
November 2016 The ex-prosecutor of the Republic of Crimea, and now a State Duma deputy, Natalia Poklonskaya sends a request for verification of the then-unfinished film "Matilda" to the Prosecutor General of Russia Yuri Chaika. Natalya explains the nature of her appeal as a kind of formed protest from several public organizations(including the "Royal Cross") against the project, which is a "threat to the national. security." In fact, Alexey Uchitel, the film director and one of the most respected cultural figures of our time, just made a film about love between a ballerina and the heir to the throne, who became last emperor Russian Empire and canonized as saints. According to Poklonskaya, the film denigrates the name of Nikolai, distorting his image, and the story taken as the basis of the film is nothing more than a myth. The director only shrugged off this check, calling it "insanity", because the film was not even shot at that time. After Teacher made a statement that the prosecutor's office conducted an inspection, but did not reveal any violations.
On January 30 of this year, Natalya Poklonskaya submits a request for a second check, continuing to insist on her own. RIA Novosti quotes her: “We cannot allow a film to be released that is a deliberate anti-historical forgery aimed at discrediting, slandering and mocking one of the most revered saints of our Church - Tsar Passion-bearer Nicholas II and his family.” In the new request, Poklonskaya requests additional verification of the script with the involvement of historians and theologians, as well as sources of budget funding.
In response to Poklonskaya's repeated appeal, a response was finally followed from Alexei Uchitel, who, in turn, filed an application with the prosecutor's office (the prosecutor's office in this case, apparently, acts as the parents of the quarreled baby). He asked to protect the film crew from slanderous attacks, and, not least, "threats and illegal actions of extremist persons." Under the auspices of Poklonskaya, many religious public organizations oppose the film and have repeatedly threatened both the film crew and potential viewers.
If you thought you knew what retaliatory step Natalya Poklonskaya took, I hasten to please: the application was sent (no, not to the prosecutor's office) to the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for combating extremism with a request to check the statements of Alexei Uchitel and his lawyer, Konstantin Dobrynin, who accused the deputy State Duma Poklonskaya in provoking pseudo-religious organizations to extremist activities. Similar statements on the part of the director, members of the movement "Christian State - Holy Rus'" prompted, sending letters threatening cinemas that would roll "Matilda". So what's going on here?
What is Alexey Uchitel's film about?
Matilda Kshesinskaya is a young ballerina who met the royal family at her graduation ball at the Imperial Theater School. Almost immediately after the first meeting between the young people, Kshesinskaya and the heir Nikolai, a feeling arose. However, a romantic relationship began only after some time. Kshesinskaya clearly understood that there could be no marriage between them, and after the engagement of Nicholas with Alice of Hesse, they no longer met. History speaks of this. Judging by the trailers, the film is somewhat focused on love triangle Kshesinskaya herself (between her, the heir Nikolai and Count Vorontsov) and Nikolai's forced humility with broken hearted- through overly pathetic expressions: “You are a king. You have a right to everything but love."
Why does Poklonskaya care?
Everything is clear with her. Poklonskaya is a deeply religious person, and always and everywhere speaks about the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, who was canonized with his family as a saint. The final clarity in the picture was made by the speech of the deputy on the air of Tsargrad TV, where Poklonskaya spoke with reverence in her voice about the “myrrh-streaming” bust of the last emperor.
After numerous requests, Poklonskaya herself orders an examination of the film. Its results are quite predictable in their content, but incredibly impressive in their wording. Medusa briefly retells the content of the examination, and we will only draw a conclusion: the film "Matilda" cannot be shown, since it absolutely, intentionally and premeditatedly offends the feelings of believers. In response to the examination, the completely dumbfounded Teacher turns to the State Duma ethics committee, clearly doubting the legitimacy of Poklonskaya's actions. A curtain.
During a serious struggle between statements to the authorities, famous filmmakers sign an open letter calling for a ban on censorship not only on the pages of the Constitution.
How is the government reacting?
First Deputy Minister of Culture Vladimir Aristarkhov assured that the Ministry of Culture would not take into account the examination of the film "Matilda" when deciding whether to issue a rental certificate. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov expressed the opinion of the majority: “trying to evaluate a film that is not yet ready is, at least, strange,” revealing puzzlement about the existence of experts capable of determining compliance with one or another canonical image. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also expressed his rejection of the persecution of authors whose works of art no one has yet seen.
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk has already seen the film (not quite finished, but complete) and called it "the apotheosis of vulgarity." RBC quotes: “This is a man who has been canonized by the church. The church has a special relationship with this man. On the day of his death, on the day of the murder royal family, tens of thousands of people come to Yekaterinburg and pass the procession. They go from the place of execution to the place of his alleged burial. Five o'clock goes this procession out of 60, 70, 80 thousand people. Can you imagine what the reaction of Orthodox believers will be when this film is released?” the Metropolitan said.
Execution cannot be pardoned
Having mastered this story (which, undoubtedly, will not end soon), you can exhale - the majority understands that the scandal, at the origins of which deputy Poklonskaya stands, is actually sucked out of thin air. She calls the image of Nicholas, inscribed in Matilda, a myth, but Lars Eidinger (who plays the role of the heir) reveals to us the true symbolist sound of the character: “For those who see Nicholas as a saint, this is not a real, but a mythological character. If as an artist you are dealing with real person, it is necessary to show the drama of his life, his temptations and his mistakes. I showed Nikolai's love for two women - Matilda and Alexandra. This is the story of the conflict of two feelings: one symbolizes the unshakable tradition of the monarchy, the other - the desire to be a free man. Matilda is a metaphor for anarchy and freedom."
When art was born, an immutable rule appeared along with it: art is outside politics and religion. I'm not talking about his absolute isolation, or the absence of an inextricable connection between the author and time, era, political regimes and the mood of society. The canvas of art is created precisely thanks to such connections. However, art cannot and should not be infringed upon so boldly, blasphemously, simply stupidly.
Nevertheless, an online petition to ban the rental of "Matilda" was signed by 13 thousand people. Those who do not accept art in its original purity, who do not realize that we are gradually and inevitably returning to the times of censorship, while experiencing an imaginary sense of freedom. And it's even more dangerous.
One thing is known for sure - the public outcry created by the scandal, the showdown at the state level for many will give food for thought, unfortunately - not the most joyful.
And in conclusion - such important words from Marina Razbezhkina, a documentary filmmaker. Meduza quotes: “No one has the right to tell an artist how to make a movie, write music, and create a painting. Not the prosecutor, not the heads of state, not the Christian community, not the spectators or listeners. The independence of the artist is his absolute right, which has constitutional grounds.”
Margarita Aghajanyan
The scandal around the not yet released film about the first love of Emperor Nicholas II unfolded with renewed vigor. Why does the film, which is still in production, so outrages the public?
In the center of the plot of the historical melodrama, as the creators called the genre, is the love of Tsarevich Nikolai Romanov, the future last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, and the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. Romantic relationship did not last long - until his coronation with his future wife Alexandra Federovna. By the way, they say that the ballerina and Nicholas II even had a daughter (!)
After a relationship with Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, she was the mistress of another Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich, and later married another representative of the royal house - Grand Duke Andrei Romanov. She raised an illegitimate son. And after the revolution of 1917, she left Russia forever. In Paris, she had her own ballet school.
The ban on the film Matilda is one of the hotly discussed topics on the Russian Internet.
Photo frame from the film
The fate of Kshesinskaya is curious in itself - she lived long life, almost a hundred years. She is a prima ballerina of the imperial theaters, an influential person.
The role of the main character was invited by the Polish actress Mikhalina Olshanskaya, Emperor Nicholas II was played by the German theater and film actor Lars Eidinger. Among the star names: Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Evgeny Mironov, Sergey Garmash, Danila Kozlovsky and Grigory Dobrygin.
The painting, meanwhile, was conceived from the first day as a large-scale historical reconstruction: the Assumption Cathedral, the Palace on the River Pontoon and the interiors of the carriages of the Imperial railway train were specially recreated. Filming took place at the Mariinsky Theatre, in the Catherine, Alexander, Yusupov and Elaginoostrovsky palaces. According to some information, 17 tons of fabric were used for 5 thousand costumes. The film's budget is $25 million.
How did it all start?
Photo frame from the film
The fact that director Alexei Uchitel started filming in 2014 historical cinema was known and no one protested. And when the production was in full swing, to say the least, the public suddenly began to actively object to the filming, demanding a complete ban. Perhaps the first trailer for the film seemed provocative. But since its appearance, complaints have been pouring in. Among the main initiators is the public movement "Royal Cross":
“In the film“ Matilda ”, Tsar Nicholas II is depicted not as he really was. The love between Matilda Kshesinskaya and Tsar Nicholas II was platonic, not lustful. Also, under the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, the economic and social situation was better compared to the current situation in Russia,” the public activists said in an official statement. And they turned for support to Natalia Poklonskaya, now a State Duma deputy, and at that time the prosecutor of the Republic of Crimea.
Natalya Poklonskaya twice sent a request to the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation to check "Matilda" for extremism. The audit found no violations. In 2016, a petition appeared on the Internet on the site Change.org, the purpose of which is to ban the film. “The content of the film is a deliberate lie,” it says.
“In history, there are no facts of cohabitation of Russian tsars with ballerinas,” the petition says. - Russia is presented in the film as a country of gallows, drunkenness and fornication, which is also a lie. Included in the picture bed scenes Nicholas II with Matilda, the tsar himself is presented as a cruel, vindictive lecher and adulterer.
Photo frame from the film
At the end of January 2017, letters of complaint were sent to the cinemas of the country. Natalya Poklonskaya sent another deputy request to the Prosecutor General's Office to check the legality of spending budget funds allocated by the Film Foundation to make the film. And in April 2017 - to the expert commission, consisting of doctors of psychology, law, philology, cultural studies, historical sciences with up to 28 years of experience as an expert to evaluate the script and trailers of the film.
The members of the commission saw a lot of criticisms: from, again, the moral character of the Russian Tsar to the ugly appearance of his beloved. And the verdict is the same: a false image of St. Nicholas II is imposed in the picture, the feelings of believers are offended. The results of the examination in Once again sent to the Attorney General.
Who supported the release of the film?
The main idea that sounds among most cultural figures and officials is that it is premature to make an opinion about a film that has not yet been released. But aggressive attacks from public organizations also could not go unnoticed. Many cultural figures considered it their duty to come out in support of the film: film director Stanislav Govorukhin, chairman of the Duma Committee on Culture, criticized the idea of checking the film, adding that such initiatives should be interrupted in the bud.
The open letter was written by more than forty Russian filmmakers, including Pavel Lungin, Alexander Proshkin, Alexander Gelman, Vitaly Mansky, Andrey Smirnov and others. Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, who was on the set of the film several times, on the air of the radio " TVNZ also supported Matilda.
Finally, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, commented on the situation around the premiere. According to him, to evaluate a film that is not yet ready is at least strange. “And then, to be honest, I, unfortunately, do not have information about which experts evaluated the film - expert to expert strife. Therefore, without knowing who exactly evaluated the film, within what powers, it is probably difficult to talk about something, ”Peskov said.
And what do the descendants of the royal Romanov dynasty say?
Photo frame from the film
Representatives of the Romanov family do not agree on the assessment of the film, which has not yet been released. But the idea of the film clearly did not appeal to many. The director of the office of the Russian Imperial House, Alexander Zakatov, on the air of Radio Baltika, called Matilda a base fake that has nothing to do with real events: “It is quite possible to discuss the personality of even a holy person, even a king, but for what purpose? To show in some perverted form, to earn money on low emotions and instincts? This is not good".
The representative of the association of members of the Romanov family (another branch of the family) in Russia, Ivan Artsishevsky, believes that there is nothing offensive in the picture. "Nicholas II became a saint for martyrdom, and to show him as a person, I think, is absolutely normal - this is my personal position, ”Artsishevsky told TASS.
The filmmakers are tired of controversy
Director Alexei Uchitel called the discussion around Matilda useless and unnecessary. “Honestly, I'm already tired of Mrs. Poklonskaya's war with me and the entire film crew. Instead of calmly finishing the film, I have to be distracted by nonsense, nonsense and insults, ”said the director of RIA Novosti. “A film will come out, everyone will watch it, and only then will it be possible to discuss it.”
The producer of the film, Alexander Dostman, also believes: “People who have not seen the film, and no one except the working group has seen it, cannot draw any conclusions - this is ridiculous, some kind of comedy, amazing stupidity. And it’s even more surprising that everyone follows Natalia Poklonskaya’s lead, reckon with her opinion, I have already ceased to be surprised by her. This is a film about beautiful love. Regardless of whether Tsar Nicholas is or not, he is a man, and a man, what, cannot love?
According to TASS, Konstantin Dobrynin, the lawyer of director Alexei Uchitel, filed a complaint with the ethics commission of the State Duma of Russia against the activities of deputy Natalia Poklonskaya, substantiating possible violations of the rules of deputy ethics, manifested in Poklonskaya's "unfounded accusations" against the Teacher, as well as in the "use knowingly false information and calls for illegal actions" against the creators of the film "Matilda".
When is the premiere?
The premiere is scheduled for October 26, 2017, it will be held at the Mariinsky Theater - where the main character of the film, Matilda Kshesinskaya, performed at the beginning of the 20th century. By the way, music producer film was the artistic director and general director of the Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev.
