Director Alexander Sokurov submitted documents to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to obtain a distribution certificate for screening the film Fairy Tale. This development was reported by TASS, the state news agency. The request marks a step toward allowing audiences in Russia to experience a work that has already circulated widely across the world and in numerous international venues.
The filmmaker expressed cautious optimism that permission would be granted, enabling the film to be shown in accordance with the established, global reception. He noted his belief that authorities will understand the project’s intent and grant access so that audiences can engage with the narrative as it unfolds on screen. The director stressed that a favorable outcome would allow Fairy Tale to reach cinemas and cultural events where it may be shown in due course.
Sokurov also mentioned that the film is slated to appear at upcoming film festivals in Tashkent and in Latin American markets, underscoring the work’s international trajectory and appeal. He emphasized his hope that festival audiences would be able to view the film and that it would contribute to ongoing conversations about cinema, history, and the moral questions at the heart of the story.
The plot of Fairy Tale centers on four men who meet in the afterlife: a historical trio of world leaders and a statesman from a later era. As they approach the moment of moral reckoning, the four figures reflect on the power they wielded, the choices they made, and the memories they carry from their own lifetimes. The film uses this encounter to explore themes of memory, legacy, and the burdens of leadership while probing how the past continues to shape the present.
Fairy Tale had its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival, where it debuted to audiences on August 6. The production follows Sokurov’s long-standing interest in intimate, philosophical portraits that place larger historical forces within the intimate scope of individuals bound by memory and consequence. The director has a history of challenging official narratives and pushing the boundaries of how cinema can engage with political symbolism and personal testimony, a pattern evident throughout his body of work.
There has been notable public discussion around the reception of Sokurov’s previous projects in Russia, including debates over regulatory oversight and the accessibility of certain films to domestic audiences. In recent years, the filmmaker has highlighted the tension between artistic expression and institutional controls, advocating for a broader dialogue about cinema as a form of cultural discourse rather than a mere instrument of classification. This context informs Fairy Tale as observers anticipate how it will be classified, distributed, and presented within Russia and beyond, given the evolving landscape of film policy and cultural policy in the country.
As Fairy Tale moves through the distribution process, industry observers are watching how the film’s thematic scope—centered on memory, power, and the legacies of global leadership—resonates with audiences in different regions. The work invites viewers to consider the responsibilities associated with public life and to reflect on the ways in which history judges those who once held immense influence. Through its characters and dialogue, the film engages with questions about accountability, the passage of time, and the moral dimensions of leadership, inviting sustained discussion among cinephiles, critics, and scholars alike.
From an artistic standpoint, Fairy Tale continues Sokurov’s interdisciplinary approach, combining visual minimalism with a provocative narrative structure that places historical personas in dialogue with each other. The result is a cinematic experience that resembles a meditation on power rather than a conventional biopic, encouraging audiences to examine how memory shapes perception and how the past remains a living force in the present. The work’s formal choices, including composition, pacing, and the use of symbolic imagery, contribute to a contemplative atmosphere that invites careful viewing and repeated engagement.
In the broader landscape of contemporary cinema, the film contributes to ongoing conversations about the role of storytelling in shaping collective memory. It presents a provocative lens through which to reexamine familiar historical episodes, while also offering contemporary relevance by examining ethical questions that persist in public discourse. As distribution discussions continue, Fairy Tale stands as a notable example of how international collaborations and festival circuits can amplify challenging artistic visions while sparking important conversations about history, responsibility, and the responsibilities of creators to their audiences. {Citation: TASS}