Directed by Askold Kurov, who directed the documentary “the Process” of Oleg Sentsov, in February, was presented at the Berlinale the film “Welcome to Chechnya” American Director David France, where he worked as a cameraman and producer. The film is about those who save and export from the Chechen Republic of homosexual people. The Director went the same way that Martin Scorsese in game picture of the “Irish” where the person Robert De Niro and other stars rejuvenated by using the latest technology. And here they gave other people’s faces that nobody was hurt. The premiere of the film was on HBO, and see his will in North America, and then other viewers on the BBC.
World premiere in the U.S. at the Sundance film festival, where the film received the award for best editing. Then there was the international premiere at the Berlin film festival in the program “Panorama-Doc” post – award-the audience award. At the largest documentary festival in Thessaloniki recently “Welcome to Chechnya” won the Grand Prix “Golden Alexander”. We talked with the Russian party painting by Askold Kulovym.
– How did you get into this project?
Director David France was read in the “new York times” article on what is happening in Chechnya, and immediately wanted to film it. Because he could not immediately come, he began to look for operator in Russia. He was recommended to me. In 2014 we with Paul Lopareva made the film “Children 404” about LGBT adolescents in Russia, which has been shown worldwide, including in new York. David saw him and he turned first to Paul, and he recommended me. David began to talk, and I before his arrival began to shoot, and then we continued work.
How you worked with the persons of his heroes, were changed one by the other?
– This has happened after the film was edited. Originally Dave’s idea about what these people are, in principle, to remove, seemed unthinkable. They’re hiding, afraid that they find out their relatives. They secretly left Russia, were scared and traumatized. It seemed that they just do not to the movie, but David believed it needed to do and managed to convince our heroes that this is an important document for the justice. He gave his word that will completely change the appearance of the characters so that they will not be able to find out. To get started, we have not yet realized what technology will be used. There were different options. For example, to animate the characters. In the end, we apply the technique of deep fake. She first used in movie. Before this was used in commercials as jokes.
– How did it happen?
– More than 20 people in new York, mostly activists, have agreed to give their face a single loss.ve shields for heroes. Took them off in the Studio from different angles, digitized in a special way, and then using artificial intelligence imposed on the faces of our heroes so that the faces of the doubles fully repeated their facial expressions and eye movement. Thus, humanity survived, which would not have been able to achieve with the animation. For the audience this substitution does not matter because they do not know how the real heroes. They see all the emotions that these people reside.
– those who gave you their faces was fear?
– some share of risk and heroism is in their act. They live in America. I don’t think they will pursue because they are in principle involved in the film. I hope that they’re safe.
have You seen the Scorsese film “the Irishman”?
– Saw. There is absolutely the same, except that in the face of De Niro superimposed the face of actor, but at a younger age. And in our film is a very different person.
What was the response in Chechnya?
– We have not yet heard any response. Was just a story on television. It was attended by Chechen human rights activist, who, in her words, tried to check the facts, but have not found evidence that someone was stalking. This is the conclusion she came to based on the fact that he had not seen any statements in the investigative Committee. Although there is a statement Maxim Lapunov’s the only one who dared him to write. His family had to leave Russia.
Filmed mostly in Moscow or in Grozny?
I’m in Chechnya did not go, but David with another operator was there, the film is an episode – one of the most powerful – when to evacuate the girl.
What will you do next as a Director?
– I mounted another film about Oleg Sentsov, who was shot in 2018. This is a story about how his friends and colleagues at a time when he went on a hunger strike, wanting to support him, to give hope and work, organized the shooting of the film on his play “Numbers”. Oleg directed from the colony remotely through counsel, wrote a detailed letter with instructions for actors, artists, operators. He claimed the casting, costumes and scenery for photos. In Kiev at the Studio all discussed it and his directions worked. I filmed the process of shooting in Kiev, I met Oleg in Labytnangi when he went with his lawyer.
