Ended on 4/14/2011
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THE DESERT OF FORBIDDEN ART -
(unrated)
2010 - Russia/USA/Uzbekistan - English - 80 minutes
Directed by: Tchavdar Georgiev, Amanda Pope
Featuring: Edward Asner, Sally Field, Ben Kingsley
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showtimes and tickets
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 How does art survive in a time of oppression? During the Soviet rule artists who stay true to their vision are executed, sent to mental hospitals or Gulags.
Their plight inspires young Igor Savitsky. He pretends to buy state-approved art but instead daringly rescues 40,000 forbidden fellow artist's works and creates a museum in the desert of Uzbekistan, far from the watchful eyes of the KGB. Though a penniless artist himself, he cajoles the cash to pay for the art from the same authorities who are banning it. Savitsky amasses an eclectic mix of Russian Avant-Garde art. But his greatest discovery is an unknown school of artists who settle in Uzbekistan after the Russian revolution of 1917, encountering a unique Islamic culture, as exotic to them as Tahiti was for Gauguin. They develop a startlingly original style, fusing European modernism with centuries-old Eastern traditions.
Ben Kingsley, Sally Field and Ed Asner voice the diaries and letters of Savitsky and the artists. Intercut with recollections of the artists' children and rare archival footage, the film takes us on a dramatic journey of sacrifice for the sake of creative freedom. Described as "one of the most remarkable collections of 20th century Russian art" and located in one of the world's poorest regions, today these paintings are worth millions, a lucrative target for Islamic fundamentalists, corrupt bureaucrats and art profiteers. The collection remains as endangered as when Savitsky first created it, posing the question whose responsibility is it to preserve this cultural treasure.
“Think Gauguin or Chagall's boundless shocks of color, colliding with the influence of Russian icon painting, the Soviet avant-garde, and the scenery of the desert lands many artists fled to in order to enjoy a last gasp of freedom after the revolution.”
-The Onion AV Club
"Fascinating story … absorbing documentary captures the flavor of the region, but the most arresting sights are inevitably those of the bold, richly colored paintings themselves.”
-Variety
CRITIC'S PICK - NEW YORK MAGAZINE
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Users Comments
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| Posted
by : Vanessa |
Date Added: 3/13/2011 12:29:32 PM  report this post |
Its a very fascinating story of bravery and courage to overcome opression through saving art. Stories of survivors are very touching. Many of the paintings are Masterpieces. I hope that the filmakers and museum curator will succeed in saving the museum. I loved question and answer session after the movie.
Don't Miss it!
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| Posted
by : Bruce Rosen |
Date Added: 3/14/2011 11:40:21 PM report this post |
It's totally fascinating. The art is indeed gorgeous.
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| Posted
by : Bruce Rosen |
Date Added: 3/14/2011 11:41:54 PMreport this post |
Didn't notice the stars. Five, for sure. Not an off note.
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| Posted
by : |
Date Added: 3/21/2011 11:33:17 PMreport this post |
Amazing film, thank you Cinema Village for screening it!
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| Posted
by : anonymous |
Date Added: 3/21/2011 11:34:28 PMreport this post |
Amazing film, thank you Cinema Village for screening it!
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| Posted
by : MEM |
Date Added: 3/23/2011 9:56:11 PMreport this post |
Just saw this film today and it is much more than the publicity I saw about it with history of the region, film footage of the history and art put together very well.
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by : weewilly |
Date Added: 5/3/2011 9:22:06 AMreport this post |
I saw this film at MoMa––DON'T MISS IT!!! Highly entertaining film about a totally unknown but important subject. The more who see this film, the less likely the wrong people will be able to sell off and destroy this amazing collection of art simply because the world does not know and does not care. GO SEE IT!
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| Posted
by : Elizabeth Cabal |
Date Added: 5/4/2011 11:19:36 PMreport this post |
What an interesting film! Many thanks Cinema Village
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| Posted
by : elizabeth cabal |
Date Added: 5/4/2011 11:23:48 PM report this post |
what an interesting film! many thanks Cinema Village!
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| Posted
by : Gay Block |
Date Added: 8/3/2011 4:13:49 PMreport this post |
Fascinating story and excellent film, beautifully edited, and really DOES let you see the amazing art that is its subject.
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| Posted
by : Marat |
Date Added: 8/3/2011 6:19:42 PMreport this post |
This film - Oscar 2011
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| Posted
by : Grant Barnes |
Date Added: 10/3/2011 1:57:31 PMreport this post |
I saw this film at a showing at USC and was engaged the entire film. The story is a simply heroic attempt by one man to rescue the visual art patrimony of the Soviet Union, which the government would have destroyed had it not been in an out-of-the-way location in a subject republic and had the local Party operatives not understood that it was they themselves who were protecting those 40,000 works, assembled one collection at the time from elderly artists or their survivors. Many of the paintings featured in the film are masterpieces, and special thanks need to go to the filmmakers for alerting us to the perilous state the collection is in now.
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| Posted
by : Car Hire |
Date Added: 12/4/2011 11:20:41 AMreport this post |
Maybe you'll want to put a twitter icon to your site. Just marked down this blog, however I had to do this by hand. Just my $.02 :)
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| Posted
by : alfred beilin |
Date Added: 3/15/2012 2:14:11 AMreport this post |
if any ones here today im looking for steven anders is he still about
alf
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| Posted
by : garydain |
Date Added: 6/5/2012 8:26:01 AMreport this post |
hello gerry here is there link address , there there most competitive in the game ,say gary told you to ring
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| Posted
by : martinnetsims |
Date Added: 7/18/2012 7:17:11 AMreport this post |
hello again gerry i shouldnt give it out but here is the web address
and details,ring them if you need them in a hurry ,just say martin said you would sort him out
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| Posted
by : michaelhoomson |
Date Added: 9/6/2012 11:59:15 AMreport this post |
long time no see grant sorry iv took so long this is there contact
filling address , there very helpfull ,tell them myself put you on
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Comments:
18
Lowest vote: 3 Highest
vote: 5 |
Average Score: 3.9 out of 5 |
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