Hard to Be a God

Beschrijving
Aleksey German directs this Russian-language sci-fi drama following the journey of a group of scientists who have been selected to travel to another planet. The planet Arkanar is similar to Earth but its civilisation hasn't progressed beyond their version of medieval feudalism and is a place built on violent acts and cruelty. The job of the scientists is not to interfere with the planet's natural course but to protect a few select individuals, who have the abilities to change the planet for good, from harm.

A group of scientists visits the distant planet Arkanar, and discovers a society still trapped in its own medieval era. Unable to interfere with the course of its history, they can only watch in mounting horror as all sparks of intelligent and independent thought are mercilessly snuffed out by Arkanar s cruel rulers. Will they remain enmired in their squalid existence for ever, or can the visitors subtly nudge the more open-minded in the right direction? Truly, it s hard to be a god.
Legendary Russian sci-fi authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (whose Roadside Picnic was filmed as Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky) wrote the source novel, and adapting it was director Aleksei German s dream project for decades. It would take six years of shooting, a further six of post-production and a posthumous premiere before his masterpiece was finally unveiled.
But masterpiece it is: a visually astonishing, almost tactile recreation of an unnervingly recognisable alternative universe, drenched in blood, mud and the tears of the oppressed.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Svetlana Karmalita introduction
Aleksei German Jr interview
Trailer

Review
Makes Werner Herzog's Aguirre, Wrath of God look like Downton Abbey --Nicolas Rapold, New York Times
Not only an unforgettable individual masterpiece but probably one of the capital-G Great Films --Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com
An epic lurch through the circle of the Inferno Dante left out --Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Regisseur: Aleksey German

Cast: Leonid Yarmolnik | Dmitri Vladimirov | Laura Pitskhelauri | Aleksandr Ilyin | Yuri Tsurilo | Yevgeni Gerchakov | Aleksandr Chutko | Oleg Botin | Pyotr Merkuryev

Ondertiteling: Engels