Mirages of the Soviet. Essays on Modern Cinema

Anton Dolin — film critic, editor-in-chief of the magazine «Art of Cinema», radio host, film reviewer for the television program «Evening Urgant», author of the books «Lars von Trier. Control Works», «Jim Jarmusch. Poems and Music», «Shades of Russian. Essays... on Domestic Cinema».
Contemporary cinema seems enchanted by the Soviet world. In Anton Dolin's new book, reflections on films made in the 21st century are gathered, yet they nonetheless speak about the past era. The author does not answer questions but poses his own: why are directors still concerned with themes of war, thaw, stagnation, dissidence, Stalinist repressions, cosmic conquests, sports victories of the USSR era, and the secret crimes of power against the people? What are these — «mirages of the Soviet», the charm of imperial aesthetics? A desire to understand history or an attempt to sever ties with the recent past?