The trailer, poster visuals, and still images for the Russian film ‘Grace,’ set to be released in Japan on Saturday, October 19th, have been unveiled.
‘Grace’ was the only Russian film screened at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and was selected for the “Directors’ Fortnight.” Set in the remote regions of Russia, the film is a road movie that follows a father and his adolescent daughter as they travel in a camper van, earning money with a mobile cinema while navigating the complexities of growing up. Directed and written by Ilya Povolotsky, a Russian filmmaker known for his documentaries, this marks his first foray into fiction.
The trailer captures the desolate, rugged mountain paths of the Russian southwest and the Caucasus, and scenes of the daughter expressing her desire to “leave this place,” all shot on 16mm film. Filming took place in the fall of 2021, just before Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine intensified. The film has been praised for its visual beauty, reminiscent of early works by Wim Wenders and Andrei Tarkovsky.
Seven still images from the film have also been released, showcasing the daughter’s brooding expressions and her strikingly bright clothing.
Grace
Director/Screenplay: Ilya Povolotsky
Cinematography: Nikolai Zeldovich
Music: Zarkas Tepra
Cast: Maria Lukyanova, Jera Chitava, Eldar Safikanov, Ksenia Kutepova
Original Title: Блажь | Blazh
Japanese Subtitles: Mina Goto
Distributor: TWENTY FIRST CITY
Distribution Support: Kurepusukyuuru Film
[2023 / Russia / Russian, Georgian, Balkar / 119 minutes / Color / European Vista]
Scheduled for nationwide release starting Saturday, October 19th, 2024, at Theatre Image Forum and other theaters across Japan.
