The filmmaker disclosed in a meeting with director Alexander Sokurov that there is a fear the film Alexandra may face a ban.
Sokurov noted that because of the prohibition on Fairy Tale, the project he completed with singer Galina Vishnevskaya might struggle to receive a second distribution certificate, casting a shadow over its future showings.
We have submitted the paperwork for the film’s second permit long ago, yet a decision has not been issued for an extended period, the director explained with frustration.
Alexandra centers on the intricate dynamics of human relationships. The narrative follows an elderly woman who visits her grandson, a Russian Army officer stationed in Chechnya, highlighting the emotional tides that travel across generations within a military setting.
In September 2023, Sokurov filed documents with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to obtain a distribution certificate for Fairy Tale. The ministry declined to proceed with the release, leaving the matter unresolved.
On October 13, organizers of the Karo.Art festival in Moscow announced the cancellation of the October 15 screening of Fairy Tale. Sokurov stated that he had received no explanation for the decision and was unclear about the possible motives behind denying the screening.
Earlier, Sokurov had announced his retirement from active filmmaking.