What has become of the Russian Orthodox Resurgence?A very personal journey to discover more about the Russian Orthodox Church rising from the ashes 20 years on from the aftermath of more than 70 years Communist rule and state enforced teaching of marxist-atheism. A journey with unexpected turns, which allows an insight into the relationship between religion, nationalism and personal belief.
Crew
Director/Camera Joe Cohen | Editor Una Gunjak | Sound Recordist Natalia Pavlova | Sound Design Duncan Price
Composer Paul Lambert | Assistant Producers Anna Kovalenko and Anna Bastrikina
Joe's experience in Moscow
The Moscow exchange project was challenging from the very beginning when I had to change my original idea due to political sensitivities. Once in Moscow, I realised the huge and daunting task of working in an alien environment without speaking the language. It was a massive learning process, and one that I would do again if I had the chance. Hauled up in a giant worn down high rise student hostel, which was strangely comforting by the end, I had many nights wondering why exactly I was stuck in the middle of Moscow without having filmed anything yet. Slowly, however my film came together. Some of the churches we filmed in were beautiful, both architecturally and on the inside. The film unraveled as an essay journey, from which I pieced together a personal voice over. This meant that it was never boring as we were constantly moving from place to place and met a lot of people and saw a lot of Moscow. From the unfriendly public officials, to the overly crowded yet stunningly beautiful underground network, to the old ladies smiling in the street, the lovely people I met there and the vast quantities of the purest vodka, cheap cigarettes, smoked fish and tasty soups, I doubt I will ever forget this first trip to Russia.
