THE REVOLUTION THAT WASN'T

Documentary, Estonia, Finland 2008 (96 min. / 58 min.)
Director: Aliona Polunina
Production: Kuukulgur Film
World Sales: Rise and Shine/Kloos & Co. Medien

In Russia 2007, the opposition to Putin’s regime is gathering forces for the next presidential elections due in exactly one year. Anatoly and Andrei are not just two such opposition fighters, they are veteran revolutionaries. According to them, only a revolution can bring about “The other Russia”. However, as members of the banned National Bolshevik Party they will try and go the “democratic” way - but neither Revolution nor victory are in sight.  While Anatoly’s teenage son remains with the political cause, Anatoly finds spiritual refuge in the Orthodox Church – the Russian revolution’s arch-enemy. THE REVOLUTION THAT WASN’T shows us the ongoing conflict between an opposition clinging onto the ideals that once formed the Soviet Union and those ruling Russia with a firm neo-capitalist grip. A film about political activists in the Russian underground who know they might have to sacrifice their lives in order to fight a system which seems unbreakable from within.

Awards
Lobende Erwähnung - DOKLeipzig 2008, Spezial Preis - IDFF/Jihvala 2008, Alpe Adria Cinema Award - Trieste Film Festival 2009, The First Award - Kiev, Investigation Award/Doc Lisboa 2009

Festivals (Selection)
Helsinki 2008/SF, DOKLeipzig 2008/D, IDFF Jihvala 2008/CZ, Trieste Film Festival 2009, Kiev Documentar Film Festival 2009, Cine du Reel/F, Visions du Reel/CH 2009, Doc Lisboa/Portugal 2009