FORUM BIFF

The Great Legacy of Russian Cinemas

It is impossible to exclude the Russian cinema’s legacy in writing film history. Along with Eisenstein’s works characterized by the experimental aesthetics in early cinema, the Soviet-Russian cinema has marvelously established its unique tradition as well as part of the universal tradition in film art. The Soviet-Russian cinema is also highly valued with its achievements in Korea. The Korean filmmakers in the 1920s were enthusiastic about Eisenstein’s film aesthetics, and the Korean cinephiles in the 1990s were fascinated by the artistic spirit in Tarkovsky’s films. In celebration of the 30 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Russia, rethinking Soviet-Russian cinema will remind us of a long history of Korea-Russia exchanges and help us find new contact points. It will also lead us to think about new cultural practices in the age of the rapidly changing media environment and the reorganization of international cultural-political relationships.

I. Film Festivals and the Tradition of Russian Cinema in the Post-Soviet Space

Where there are films, there are film festivals. Russians have held various film festivals from the time of the Soviet Union till now. The film festivals were the very site for the creation of new films. The classic case is the Moscow International Film Festival, which became regular during the thaw and now serves as a window on Russian cinema. Besides, there were significant moments in Russian cinema when many Russian filmmakers such as Eisenstein and Tarkovsky were invited to several renowned international film festivals in the West. Many film festivals have been held in the far eastern part of Russia in the post-cold war era. They are noteworthy in that their meeting with the dynamic culture in the Far East has created great synergy.

II. Russian Cinemas in Korean Culture

Tarkovsky and Eisenstein are obviously master filmmakers in the history of Russian cinema. Can we imagine a new cinema without forgetting them? After their death, Russian cinema seems to have a long sleep. That is why we need to revisit the aesthetics of Russian cinema during the thaw to arouse Russian cinema from sleep and draw audiences’ attention to it. Reconsidering the origin of Russian cinema might be a good way to wake it up. Art in the early years of the Soviet Union was one of the great achievements in the entire art history. Russian cinema was at the heart of it. The reinterpretation of Eisenstein’s later works will also renew our attention to Russian cinema.