DAU Director Defends Film Despite Ukrainian Backlash at Venice Film Festival

Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky refused to denounce the lead actor of 'DAU' despite criticism from Ukraine, expressing support for the Ukrainian government's victory in the ongoing war.

9 Sept, 11:56 — 9 Sept, 16:41

Post Share

Why this matters

The controversy highlights the intense scrutiny faced by artists from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, particularly those operating in exile or maintaining ambiguous stances. It underscores the tension between artistic expression and political accountability, as cultural figures are pressured to explicitly condemn the Kremlin's actions. The incident at Venice serves as a flashpoint for broader debates about whether engaging with Russian cultural projects implicitly legitimizes the regime.

Key entitiesIlya Khrzhanovsky Teodor Currentzis Lev Landau Venice Film Festival Ukraine

Source Diversity

High (71/100)

6 sources33/33

Spectrum spread— 3/5 buckets covered17/33

Far L1

Far Left (1)

The Guardian

Left4

Left (4)

publicohollywood-reporterla-repubblicavariety

Center

Right1

Right (1)

die-presse

Far R

Geographic diversity— 5 regions21/34

US2Portugal1UK1Austria1Italy1

Sources

Showing 3 of 6 sources

The GuardianMostly Factual1d ago

Russian director refuses to denounce lead actor despite criticism from Ukraine

Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s DAU, about physicist Lev Landau, stars Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis, who has refused to speak out against Putin’s war The director of a controversial new Russian film has said “everyone pays for his own choice” when asked about his lead’s refusal to condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine. In film-maker Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s DAU, which premiered at the Venice film festival on Wednesday, Greek-Russian star conductor Teodor Currentzis plays the eponymously nicknamed protagonist...

By Philip Oltermann in Venice

Read full article →

varietyMostly Factual1d ago

‘DAU’ Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky Responds to Ukraine Backlash at Venice: I Wish for the Ukrainian Government to ‘Save the Country and Win This War’

Dissident Russian director Ilya Khrzhanovsky, who is at the Venice Film Festival with competition title “DAU” countered claims by Ukrainian officials that the film has Russian state links and took a clear position on the ongoing war. “Look, my position about Russia-Ukrainian war has been very clear from the beginning of the war,” he said. […]

By Ellise Shafer

Read full article →

hollywood-reporterMostly Factual1d ago

‘DAU’ Review: A Towering and Immersive Cinematic Epic That Recreates the Dark Ages of Soviet Oppression

Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky's biopic of Russian physicist Lev Lendau has been 20 years in the making, with over a dozen related features and other projects created in what’s been dubbed the 'Stalinist Truman Show.'

By Jordan Mintzer

Read full article →

Coverage Timeline

First report: variety · 9 Sept, 11:56|Full coverage: 6 · 9h|Window: 9h

variety9 Sept, 11:56First to report

‘DAU’ Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky Responds to Ukraine Backlash at Venice: I Wish for the Ukrainian Government to ‘Save the Country and Win This War’

la-repubblica9 Sept, 12:06

“Dau”, il regista a Venezia: “Auguro all’Ucraina di vincere questa guerra. Non critico gli altri”

2h later

hollywood-reporter9 Sept, 13:45

‘DAU’ Review: A Towering and Immersive Cinematic Epic That Recreates the Dark Ages of Soviet Oppression

die-presse9 Sept, 14:33

Dieser Film gehört ganz und gar Teodor Currentzis [premium]

2h later

The Guardian9 Sept, 16:41

Russian director refuses to denounce lead actor despite criticism from Ukraine

4h later

publico9 Sept, 21:01Latest update

DAU Director Defends Film Despite Ukrainian Backlash at Venice Film Festival

Why this matters

Source Diversity

Source Diversity

Sources

Russian director refuses to denounce lead actor despite criticism from Ukraine

‘DAU’ Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky Responds to Ukraine Backlash at Venice: I Wish for the Ukrainian Government to ‘Save the Country and Win This War’

‘DAU’ Review: A Towering and Immersive Cinematic Epic That Recreates the Dark Ages of Soviet Oppression

Coverage Timeline

‘DAU’ Director Ilya Khrzhanovsky Responds to Ukraine Backlash at Venice: I Wish for the Ukrainian Government to ‘Save the Country and Win This War’

“Dau”, il regista a Venezia: “Auguro all’Ucraina di vincere questa guerra. Non critico gli altri”

‘DAU’ Review: A Towering and Immersive Cinematic Epic That Recreates the Dark Ages of Soviet Oppression

Dieser Film gehört ganz und gar Teodor Currentzis [premium]

Russian director refuses to denounce lead actor despite criticism from Ukraine

<em>DAU</em>: como eles não pararam de se preocupar e não passaram a amar a bomba

Related Stories

Venice Film Festival Hosts Premiere of Bombshell Gaza Documentary 'NAZA'

Gaza documentary ‘NAZA’ receives 25-minute ovation at Venice Film Festival

Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition Opens to Sold-Out Crowds in UK

Bayeux Tapestry goes on display in UK for first time at sold-out London exhibit

Why this matters