On Goa screen,a small film with big dreams

Written by Oleg Negin,the film is about an elderly couple,Elena and Vladimir,who have children from earlier marriages. Vladimir makes his daughter his only heiress,shattering Elena’s dream of supporting her son and grandchild.

The film required only four actors and two flats. The budget came down to $3 million. In seven months,the film was ready to be screened.

Asked how everything fell into place, Zvyagintsev says,“This is like asking a cook how that fabulous soup is made. The cook can never provide an answer to that question.”

He now has three scripts to choose from for his next venture. “I want the next film to be a big-budget movie.”

He had worked for television before he made his movie debut with The Return,which won the Golden Lion at Venice. The Banishment premiered at Cannes 2007 and was nominated for the Palme d’Or.

IFFI’s honours will be announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday.