NIRVANA

Directed By: Igor Voloshin

Review By: Kim Jindra

NIRVANA is the story of a lonely young nurse, Alisa, who leaves Moscow for St. Petersburg hoping to reconnect with some old friends.   But instead she gets caught up in the lives of her drug addicted neighbors.  Her need for companionship jeopardizes her very existence.   Alisa's journey is unsettling yet I could not turn away.  I rooted for her the whole way.

The film contains a bounty of color and textures.  Dmitriy Yashonkov's camera work deserves a special mention as does the art/set direction and costumes.  I loved the way director Igor Voloshin juxtapositioned the once magnificent but now drab buildings with the colorful bursts of costume and make-up.  It is a new way to see Russia.  In the past, I always thought of Russia in terms of great architectural palaces contrasted with the dark colors of the people.  Voloshin turns this notion upside down.  I would love to have a couple of the outfits Alisa wears, especially that black coat.

NIRVANA takes a hard look at a new Russian society in almost a decadent way.  I am anxious to see Voloshin's next effort.