Only a few films from the new, post-Berlin wall, Russian film industry have made it across the continent to reach us. Through a dark, claustrophobic thriller, Yury Byjov reveals the inner turmoil of the modern Russian man, a man, lost in an urban jungle, brutally confronted by the double pillars of bureaucracy and the mafia. Such is the central theme of The Major, Yury Bykov's second feature film. The 31 year-old filmmaker was born into a working class family in the region of Ryazan, south of Moscow.
«Initially, the script was meant to denounce the cruelty of the police system, but very quickly the story became that of this policeman caught in a criminal spiral and a moral dilemma. This is how The Major engages with modern Russia's societal issues. The degradation of Russian society affects both State and citizens. The « clan » systems have developed at every level, and in this situation, no « civilised » society can exist. We worked on this script and the film project with Alexei Uchitel, my producer here. As is the case with independent films everywhere, you have to rely on the generosity of your producer.
The shoot wasn't easy in this region, freezing in winter. The equipment would sometimes break down but the team stayed strong. A Russian team is usually a commmunity of mad people ready to freeze in the snow ten hours a day, without eating, drinking or sleeping. We felt it was very important to make this film as real as possible. Perhaps because this film spoke about us.»
