During the making of the documentary Balabanov: Bell Tower Requiem, director Lyubov Arkus faced a striking, almost prophetic moment. She had long anticipated that Alexei Balabanov would pass away, and her awareness shaped the emotional atmosphere around the project from the very start. After a special cassette screening at the Oktyabr cinema center on December 3, she spoke of a looming farewell that would inevitably mark the film’s legacy. Her reflections captured a paradox that scholars and fans of Balabanov’s cinema have grappled with: the certainty of loss mingled with the stubborn belief in an enduring creative impact. She noted the surreal tension of knowing someone would no longer be present, while also acknowledging the life and work that would endure through the film itself.
The documentary began two years before Balabanov’s death, conceived as a chronicle of the director’s final project, I Want It Too. Balabanov, who preferred to avoid interviews, granted Arkus access to film him at work and at home, and he offered candid commentary on the process. The resulting footage reveals not only a filmmaker’s technique but also the textures of his personality, his philosophies about life, and his approach to labor. The record captures Balabanov’s unique stance toward storytelling, the pragmatic choices that underpinned his artistic vision, and the way he navigated the pressures of production. The last scenes featuring Balabanov were completed in May 2013, offering a poignant testament to a career cut short yet deeply influential.
The filmmaker’s death followed on May 18, 2013, at the age of 54. Official medical reports cited acute heart failure in the context of a serious chronic condition, underscoring the fragility of life even among those who shape culture with bold, lasting work. Throughout the documentary, the sense of finality is tempered by the enduring resonance of Balabanov’s contributions to cinema, and the film takes pains to present both his vulnerabilities and his uncompromising ambitions. The project thus becomes not only a portrait of a director at the end of his journey but also a meditation on the way a creator’s voice continues to influence collaborators, viewers, and future filmmakers long after the shutter has closed.
The premiere of Balabanov: Bell Tower Requiem is scheduled to be released to theaters on December 8, inviting audiences to witness a layered testament to a director who left a distinct mark on contemporary cinema. The film positions Balabanov’s later work within the larger arc of his career, inviting viewers to reflect on the evolution of his storytelling and the personal stakes embedded in his collaborations. The audience will explore how the filmmaker’s approach—part documentary, part intimate diary—provides a window into the craft, pressures, and passions that shaped his most ambitious projects. The release marks a culmination of years of archival material, testimonies, and new interviews, all converging to illuminate Balabanov’s legacy in fresh and resonant ways.
Previously, media outlets had highlighted the major premieres slated for December, signaling a renewed interest in Balabanov’s oeuvre and the enduring relevance of his cinematic voice. The film invites contemplation not only of the man behind the camera but also of the broader cultural landscape in which his work emerged, connecting audiences with the themes, risks, and emotional truths that defined his approach to storytelling. As viewers encounter Balabanov’s final chapters through this documentary, they are offered an opportunity to reexamine his influence on a generation of filmmakers and to consider how memory and mortality intersect with artistic achievement in the world of cinema.