Andrej Nekrasov's 2001 film 'Love and Other Nightmares' explores Russian women's plight through metafilm and sci-fi
The 2001 Russian film 'Love and Other Nightmares,' directed by Andrej Nekrasov, merges metafilm elements with a science fiction storyline. It centers on Alex, an English-speaking entrepreneur in New Russia, who engages in video-recorded dream-projection experiments involving women, including nightclub workers and assassins like Ljuba. Characters frequently speak directly to the camera, with scenes of orgasm intertwined with themes of death. The film showcases striking visuals, such as close-ups of Ljuba and the landscapes of Petersburg, which echo the memories of victims in Russia. Nekrasov utilizes a Dogma-style handheld camera and a carefully arranged montage of Ljuba's abortion alongside Alex's endeavors. The soundtrack features Russian folk music and Tom Waits. The film critiques Russia's desire for Westernization, highlighting the degradation of women. Fiona Björling's review appeared on ARTMargins Online on November 1, 2001.
Key facts
- Andrej Nekrasov directed the 2001 Russian film 'Love and Other Nightmares'
- The film blends metafilm with a sci-fi plot involving videoed dream-projection experiments
- Alex, the male protagonist, recruits women to dream about, speaking English with a Russian accent
- Women characters include Western nightclub girls, business women, and hardened Russian killer Ljuba
- Orgasm scenes are always accompanied by death, with at least five shown heterosexually, homosexually, and self-induced
- The film uses Dogma-style hand camera work and structured montage between Ljuba's abortion and Alex's pursuits abroad
- Color glides imperceptibly between color and black-and-white, and the soundtrack includes Russian folk songs and Tom Waits
- Fiona Björling's review was published on ARTMargins Online on November 1, 2001
Entities
Artists
- Andrej Nekrasov
- Fiona Björling
- Shalyapin
- Tom Waits
Institutions
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Russia
- Sweden
- Petersburg