Russian Snark

2010

78 mins

Directed by Stephen Sinclair
Comedy
Drama
Award Winner

"Screenwriter Stephen Sinclair turns writer/director with this bittersweet comedy about two refugee artists from Russia getting to grips with life... More

"Screenwriter Stephen Sinclair turns writer/director with this bittersweet comedy about two refugee artists from Russia getting to grips with life in the South Pacific.

The unworldly Misha and his vivacious wife Nadia leave their homeland in search of peace of mind and aesthetic freedom, landing like hopeful aliens in contemporary Auckland. Misha heads to the beach and immerses himself in experimental filmmaking, framing luminous B&W images of naked bodies on rocky foreshores. Nadia adjusts to her shiny new environment more pragmatically, but life as Misha’s muse, model and breadwinner takes its toll. Stephen Papps (speaking Russian) charms and vexes as the soulful man-child, while Elena Stejko brings a glowing blonde vitality to her every scene. Stephanie Tauevihi provides a sweet taste of Kiwi, as the unhappily separated PI neighbour who reaches out to Misha at his most forlorn, and brings him gently back to earth." (New Zealand International Film Festival 2010)

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Russian Snark | Ratings & Reviews

"Russian Snark is a strange but delightful beast, well worth hunting out."

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Sunday Star-Times

"Quest to grasp creative trajectory..."

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Otago Daily Times

"When he quotes Nietzsche's idea that if you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you, he makes it sound like it's rapture, not despair he's feeling."

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New Zealand Herald

"With its minimalist, atmospheric soundtrack and arty black and white imagery and lashings of “artistic” nudity (which even includes the striking Stejko performing a striptease in national costume) it has more in common with the works of Florian Habicht than this country’s more mainstream, multiplex-friendly fare."

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Christchurch Press

Russian Snark | Details

Directed by

Cast

Award winner: Best Supporting Actress (Stephanie Tauevihi) at the Qantas Film Awards 2010. Best International Film at Garden State Film Festival (New Jersey, USA).
Rating: M, contains violence, offensive language, nudity
Runtime: 78
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country of origin: New Zealand