As part of its ongoing International Film Forum, Carleton College is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of a new film by acclaimed Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov. Faust (2011, 140 minutes) will be screened on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Weitz Center for Creativity Cinema. This event is free and open to the public.
Faust is the final chapter in Sokurov’s “men of power” tetralogy and the winner of the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2011. Sokurov’s tetralogy explores the corrupting effects of power. The first three installments were dedicated to 20th-century rulers: Moloch (1999) about Hitler, Taurus (2000) about Lenin, and The Sun (2004) about Emperor Hirohito. The final chapter in the series, Faust, is a retelling of Goethe’s tragedy and depicts the instincts and schemes of Faust in his lust for power.
Leisure Time Features notes, “Employing elaborate camera movements, a dense soundscape, intricate production design and spectacular locations, Faust conjures up a unique and phantasmagoric vision of the Faustian legend. Faust, played by Johannes Zeiler, is a man in search of the ideals of the Enlightenment but he becomes obsessed with the lovely Magarethe (Isolda Dychauk) and eventually sells his soul to the Devil (Anton Adasinsky) also known as the Moneylender, so that he may possess her. Comic, cosmic, painterly and stunningly beautiful scenes abound as the Devil takes Faust on a strange, unforgettable journey that ends in Hell itself.”
Sokurov is also renowned for his 2002 release, Russian Ark, filmed in a single unedited shot. In addition to Faust, four of his films have debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Carleton screening of Sokurov’s Faust will be introduced by Diane Nemec Ignashev, the Class of 1941 Professor of Russian and the Liberal Arts.
The Carleton College International Film Forum presents acclaimed films from around the globe every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. All screenings are free and open to the public.
This event is sponsored by Arts@Carleton. For more information, contact Director of the Arts Steve Richardson at (507) 222-4389. The Weitz Center for Creativity is located at College and Third Streets in Northfield.
