The Mark of Cain (2000 film)
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- For other uses of the phrase "Mark of Cain", see Mark of Cain.
| The Mark of Cain | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alix Lambert |
| Produced by | Go East Productions |
| Running time | 73 min (French version) |
| Country | Russia |
| Language | Russian |
The Mark of Cain is a 2000 documentary film on Russian criminal tattoos directed by Alix Lambert.
Contents |
[edit] Russian prison tattoos
The Mark of Cain documents the fading art form and “language” of Russian criminal tattoos, formerly a forbidden topic in Russia. The now vanishing practice is seen as reflecting the transition of the broader Russian society. Filmed in some of Russia’s most notorious prisons, including the fabled White Swan, the interviews with prisoners, guards, and criminologists reveal the secret language of “The Zone” and “The Code of Thieves” (Vor v zakone).
The prisoners of the Stalinist Gulag, or "Zone," as it is called, developed a complex social structure (documented as as early as the 1920s) that incorporated highly symbolic tattooing as a mark of rank. The existence of these inmates at prisons and forced labor camps was treated by the state as a deep secret. In the last decade, Russia's prison population has exploded, with overcrowding among the worst in the world. Some estimates suggest that in the last generation over thirty million of Russia's inmates have had tattoos even though the process is illegal inside Russian prisons.
The film served as source material for David Cronenberg’s 2007 dramatic movie, Eastern Promises.
[edit] Distribution
The Mark of Cain was released in North America in 2008.
[edit] Awards and nominations
[edit] 2001
- Créteil International Women's Film Festival, "AFJ Documentary Award - Special Mention" (Won, Alix Lambert)
[edit] 2002
- Independent Spirit Awards, "Truer Than Fiction Award" (Nominated, Alix Lambert)
[edit] External links
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