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1997(1st) ~ 2024(28th)
Off the Fantastic
Alexey BALABANOV
Russia2008 102 min 35mm C Asian Premiere
Russia in winter 1917, amid the spreading premonition of the Revolution and the impending doom of World War I. POLIYAKOV, a young doctor, is assigned to the hospital in a snow-covered country town, crowded with patients — an elderly woman suffering from a chronic condition, a young man who has lost his leg to an accident, etc. The young physician’s life in the town seems perfect, though in fact it is crumbling down as he contracted diphtheria from a patient. His system shows allergic reactions to the vaccine, and he starts taking morphine to forget the pain. Inspired by the autobiographical notes of a Russian doctor named Mikhail BULGAKOV, Morphia is the latest film by Aleksei BALABANOV (Brother and Cargo 200), known for his powerful yet sensitive directing already introduced to Korean fans. His talent is best illustrated in the pace of the film, as the story transitions from the earlier part with peace and serenity toward the end where his life meets a ruthless destruction due to addiction to morphine. The signature BALABANOV narration adding direct as well as indirect comments on the era’s socio-political agendas is also fascinating. Don’t miss the fine performance of the new face Leonid BICHEVIN, who plays POLIYAKOV with such conviction. (Jin PARK)