The eagerly awaited re-release of the film Alexandra, directed by Alexander Sokurov, is planned to premiere in St. Petersburg on December 18. The screening will take place at the Angleterre Cinema Hall, a venue renowned for showcasing thoughtful cinema in the city. The announcement came through official channels associated with Sokurov, confirming the location and date for audiences curious about the director’s latest edition of the film. The event is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM, inviting fans of Sokurov’s work and newcomers alike to experience this updated presentation firsthand in a classic cinema setting.
Alexander Sokurov’s Alexandra was originally released in 2007 and has remained a significant part of his filmography. The narrative follows an elderly woman named Alexandra Nikolaevna as she travels to visit her grandson, who serves as an officer within a military unit. The film unfolds in the early 2000s in Chechnya, exploring family ties, duty, and the human impact of conflict through a close, intimate lens. The principal performances feature Galina Vishnevskaya, Vasily Shevtsov, and Raisa Gichaeva, whose portrayals contribute to the film’s enduring emotional resonance and stark, observational style that Sokurov is known for.
The decision to screen Alexandra again is part of a broader effort to present Sokurov’s work to contemporary audiences in a renewed light. Previous communications from the director’s official channels had indicated that a premiere or special screening at another venue, such as the Aurora theater in St. Petersburg, would not proceed as initially planned. While the reasons for that cancellation were not disclosed, the current schedule focuses on the December 18 event at Angleterre, offering a fresh opportunity to view the film in a setting that many film lovers associate with serious, intimate storytelling.
Historically, Alexandra places its action within a wartime milieu, yet it emphasizes personal relationships and the quiet, often unseen consequences of military life. The story follows Alexandra’s stay with her grandson and the officers stationed at the unit, where moments of restraint, memory, and moral reflection emerge against a backdrop of tension and uncertainty. Sokurov’s approach invites viewers to engage with the characters’ inner lives rather than relying on overt action, creating a contemplative cinematic experience that many audiences have found profoundly affecting across the years since its initial release.
As with Sokurov’s broader body of work, Alexandra has sparked discussions about memory, sovereignty, and the human dimension of conflict. The December screening aims to offer audiences a chance to reassess the film within the director’s evolving artistic language and its place in modern cinema. Attendees may expect a program note that situates the film within Sokurov’s oeuvre while highlighting the updated edition’s framing for today’s viewers. The Angleterre Cinema Hall remains a suitable venue for this kind of intimate, director-centered screening, where the film’s textures, performances, and observational style can be appreciated in a focused cinema environment.
In sum, the December 18 showing of Alexandra represents more than a routine re-release. It is a reaffirmation of Sokurov’s commitment to presenting challenging, character-driven cinema to audiences in Russia and beyond. The evening at Angleterre will likely draw fans who have followed the director’s work for years, as well as new viewers seeking a thoughtful cinematic experience that invites reflection on memory, war, and familial bonds. The film’s enduring relevance and Sokurov’s distinctive cinematic voice continue to resonate, inviting a renewed dialogue among viewers who value cinema that speaks with quiet intensity and moral nuance.
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