BFI London Film Festival 2018: Summer

BFI London Film Festival 2018: Summer

Amid the hyper-controlled cultural world of pre-Perestroika Leningrad, a rock scene is burgeoning. Their leader is the charismatic Mike (Roma Zver), who works in a factory by day and transcribes Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and David Bowie lyrics by night. Enter Viktor Tsoy (Teo Yoo), an aspiring musician who quickly charms the gang – and Mike’s girlfriend Natasha (Irina Starshenbaum). Amongst the rockers inspired by Western music playing in Communist Party-licensed clubs and semi-sedated audiences whose applause is policed, Tsoy’s raw talent is a breath of fresh air and hints at the possibility of – and need for – change. Though Serebrennikov remains under house arrest on as-yet-unfounded embezzlement charges, Summer is a timely mood piece that dares to ask how artists can survive in a repressive regime.

Anna Bogutskaya

Dir Kirill Serebrennikov
With Roma Zver, Irina Starshenbaum, Teo Yoo
Russia, 2018, 126min
Subtitles

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