The Russian Woodpecker

This article is about the documentary film. For Soviet radar system near Chernobyl, see Duga-3.
The Russian Woodpecker

Film poster
Directed by Chad Gracia
Produced by Mike Lerner
Ram Devineni
Chad Gracia
Written by Chad Gracia
Music by Katya Mihailova
Cinematography Artem Ryzhykov
Edited by Chad Gracia
Devin Tanchum
Production
company
Roast Beef Productions
Rattapallax Productions
Gracia Films
Release dates
  • 24 January 2015 (2015-01-24) (Sundance)
Running time
 80 minutes
Country United States
UK
Ukraine
Language English
Russian

The Russian Woodpecker is a 2015 documentary film written, produced and directed by Chad Gracia following Fedor Alexandrovich's investigation into the Chernobyl disaster. It is Gracia's directorial debut feature.[1] The film premiered in the "World Cinema Documentary" competition at 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015[2] and won the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the festival.[3]

Synopsis

The films focuses on Fedor Alexandrovich's research into the cause of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine and its potential connection to a Soviet Cold War-era structure, the Duga over-the-horizon radio antenna. His investigation is interrupted and impacted by the 2014 EuroMaidan uprising, which eventually led to the ouster of the pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Production

During the production of the film, cinematographer Artem Ryzhykov was injured by sniper fire at Euromaidan and his equipment was destroyed.[4] Two people standing next to him that day were killed at that moment.[5]

Promotion

A clip from the film was released online on January 20, 2015.[6]

Reception

(From L to R)Producer Mike Lerner, Director Chad Gracia, cinematographer Artem Ryzhykov and Fedor Alexandrovich at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

The film received positive reception from the critics. Charlie Phillips of The Guardian gave the film a four out of five star review and said that "Gracia succeeds brilliantly in delivering a chilling warning about where Putin and his spooks might go next, by giving Fedor full licence to act the biblical prophet."[7] Dennis Harvey of Variety also gave the film a positive review saying that "“The Russian Woodpecker” is surprisingly inventive, even buoyant in its presentation of several issues that could scarcely be more sobering. Assembly is first-rate down the line, with particular credit due to Gracia and Devin Tanchum’s superb editing, which docu vet Alan Berliner is credited as supervising."[8] Drew Taylor of The Playlist graded the film "A" and in his review said that ""The Russian Woodpecker" is the story of two countries that may have divided but who are still linked through their politics, exports and the ghosts that still wander the contaminated grounds of both Chernobyl... and the Russian Woodpecker."[9] Daniel Walber of Nonfic also gave the film a positive review that "First and foremost a thrilling conspiracy theory documentary about Fedor Alexandrovich and his quest for the truth behind the Chernobyl nuclear disaster."[10] Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter praising the film said that "Given the film’s narrative encompasses the death of thousands of people at various points in Ukrainian history, and most recently hundreds in the recent conflict (Artem himself is shot and nearly killed during the protests), Gracia finds the humor in many of the situations, and has properly Slavic feel for the absurd. Bouncy animation and fish-eye lens are frequently deployed to create a stylized sense of playfulness which only enhances the film’s many compelling qualities."[11]

Accolades

List of Accolades
Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result
31st Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize
(World Cinema Documentary)		 Chad Gracia Won[12]
31st International Documentary Association Awards Won
(Best Cinematography)		 Artem Ryzhykov Won[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Sundance 2015: As war escalates at home, two Ukrainians take on Putin". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Russian Woodpecker 2015 Sundance Film Festival Review". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’ Sweeps Sundance Awards". January 31, 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "Meet the 2015 Sundance Filmmakers #51: Chad Gracia Risked a Lot to Make 'The Russian Woodpecker'". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Russian Woodpecker's Chad Gracia & Fedor Alexandrovich - a Beyond Cinema Original Interview. (Interview). March 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  6. ↑ "Sundance Exclusive: There Are No Coincidences In Clip From Documentary 'The Russian Woodpecker'". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Phillips, Charlie. "Sundance 2015 review: The Russian Woodpecker – paranoia and prophecy from a Chernobyl soothsayer". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Sundance Film Review: ‘The Russian Woodpecker’". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Sundance Review: Mysterious Soviet Conspiracy Documentary Thriller 'The Russian Woodpecker'". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Sundance 2015: ‘The Russian Woodpecker’ Is a Revolutionary, Convincing Conspiracy Theory Doc". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "‘The Russian Woodpecker’: Sundance Review". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Here Are Your 2015 Sundance Film Festival Winners". Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "International Documentary Association Winners". Retrieved 8 February 2016.

External links

Awards
Preceded by
The Return to Homs		 Sundance Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary
2015 		Succeeded by
TBD
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.