Prosti Menya Sergei
| Directed by: | Damian Wojciechowski |
|---|---|
| Country: | Russian Federation |
| Created: | 2004 |
| Runtime: | 55 min. |
| Member: | C-line |
Film Description:
Synopsis
The film 'Forgive Me, Sergei' is a story of love, betrayal and forgiveness between two people who never met and who may never meet. It is an example of how the ideological war between the Soviet Union and the United States dramatically affected the fates of those living in the Twentieth Century, how a 20-year-old Soviet sailor Sergei Kourdakov, on the third of September 1971, jumped from his ship in the Pacific Ocean and barely made it alive to the Canadian shore. As a political immigrant, Sergei was dealt a completely new hand for his tragic life. Before his death in 1973, he wrote his autobiography, which sold millions worldwide in 14 different languages, including Russian under the title, 'Forgive Me Natasha'. (The English title was 'The Persecutor.') Thirty years later a young American woman, Caroline Walker, inspired by this book and a vision from God, finds herself in Russia. It is an upsetting journey not only regarding this modern day 'Apostle Paul' but even more powerful -- Caroline's own fate.
Forms: Documentary, Experimental, Television
Genres: Family, Comedy, Drama, Educational, Religious, Romance, Human Rights, Independent, Road Trip, War/Peace, Period/Historical, Action/Adventure, Reality, Supernatural
Niches: Christian, Women, Student, Mature/Adult
Screenings & Events
Saint Anna Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Second Place
Moscow, Russian Federation
April 2004
Kinotaur
Film Festival
Awards: One of few documentaries invited to participate
Sochi, Russian Federation
May 2004
Moscow Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: One of only 10 documentaries invited to participate
Moscow, Russian Federation
June 2004
Meetings in Siberia
Film Festival
Awards: Invited as Participant
Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
September 2004
LAVR National Film and TV Awards
Film Festival
Awards: Nominated for Best Debut
Moscow, Russian Federation
October 2004
Spindletop Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Third Place
Beaumont, U S A
April 2005
Magnificat Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: First Place
Belarus
May 2005
Angelus Awards
Film Festival
Awards: Semi-Finalist
Hollywood, U S A
June 2005
Prix Europa
Film Festival
Awards: Finalist
Berlin, Germany
June 2005
Crossroads of Europe Documentary Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Standing Ovation
Lublin, Poland
September 2005
Cracow International Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Invited to Participate
Cracow, Poland
October 2005
Real Cinema Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: First Place
Moscow, Russian Federation
March 2006
World Fest International Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Silver 'Remi'
Houston, U S A
May 2006
Cast & Crew
Caroline Walker (Producer), Damian Wojciechowski (Director, Producer, Executive Producer)
Art DepartmentYuriy Kolesnikov (Production Designer)
Post ProductionAleksiey Kozoriezov (Digital Effects), Andriey Popov (Sound Editor), Anton Kuchinski (Digital Effects), Dorota Wardeszkiewicz (Picture Editor), Kiril Kormoshov (Digital Effects)
MusicAndriey Popov (Original Music/Composer)
RepresentationMagan Hunt (Publicist)
AcademicIgor Kokariev (School Administrator), Leonid Gourievich (Academic Advisor)
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Ratings
great film. great twists. offers a window into the emotions and struggles of the protagonist (i.e. Caroline, not Sergei)



3 Comments about Prosti Menya Sergei
Jun 24, 2008 09:24PM
There is a good Russian saying "Fear has big eyes"! It is true about Masha. Masha - you will not be killed nowadays in Russia for "even one word of truth"! I don't know who you work for, but I lived in Russia for 30 years, and I can tell you that everything you say is so much full of it, that it cannot even be accepted as a candidate for truth!
Jan 31, 2008 02:19PM
I�d like to say my word, when I just listened to film �Prosti menya Sergei�. Oh my God � there is many lies. And my word to Caroline is: I understand that you spent so many time finding out the truth. But I�d like to tell you the TRUTH � that the people in Russia still afraid of saying any word especially about these �communist� years, even now when there is no more communism in country, people are just afraid of speaking up, because they know if they will tell you even one word of truth they might be killed�.!!! There is still lots of communists in country they all undercover and sitting quiet, but doing their job undercover. Believe me I lived there and I know, remember all those times! There is still many people living there and they know how it was in these times. I would like to say that every word in that book �Prosti menya Natasha� is TRUE. There are many even worst stories how communists done their job�.in past �...!!!!!
May 31, 2006 09:21AM
'Forgive Me Sergei' is a story that does more than give you a look into another person's life, but it also gives you a good look into your own . I could see myself in Caroline's search for the truth and empathize in her emotional process of discovery.
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