Soviet Union

Iran’s banned director Rasoulof wins top prize at dark Berlinale

Torture of a woman at a Soviet-era physics institute and a young American woman's effort to secure an abortion against all odds were among the subjects of the winning films at a 70th Berlinale that more than lived up to advance word it would be dark. As a sombre final touch, Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof,…Read more Iran’s banned director Rasoulof wins top prize at dark Berlinale

“DAU. Natasha” brings Soviet-era terror to Berlinale

If anyone has any lingering illusions about the grimness of the Soviet system, a bracing 145 minutes watching the film "DAU. Natasha", a main competition entry at the 70th Berlinale, should remedy that. This dark and disturbing offering from director Ilya Khrzhanovskiy, the mastermind behind the long-running DAU project in Ukraine, which employed tens of…Read more “DAU. Natasha” brings Soviet-era terror to Berlinale