Roundtable Discussion on Anna Melikyan's Film 'Rusalka' Explores New Russian Identity

In November 2008, a roundtable focused on Anna Melikyan's 2007 film 'Rusalka' (The Mermaid) took place after a workshop at the Free University in Berlin, part of the 'Die nicht mehr neuen Menschen' initiative. The discussion aimed to contextualize individual ideas in Russian cinema and literature against Soviet-era narratives. Participants examined how contemporary Russian literature reflects social transformations during the Putin era, particularly in character development. 'Rusalka' represented Russia at the Foreign Oscars in 2009, illustrating the 'new Russian woman or man' in the context of patriarchal fairy tales and emerging capitalism. The conversation highlighted a transition from postmodern identity fluidity to a clearer depiction of the 'new Russian man/woman.' Notable attendees included Natascha Drubek-Meyer and Matthias Meindl. The film, produced by Central Partnership, has a runtime of 115 minutes and was featured in an article on ARTMargins Online on April 29, 2009.