BELARUS:
MAKE LOVE NOT WAR
Strip and War
Because of the current situation in Belarus, the winner of FIPRESCI International Film Critics' Prize for best Documentary "STRIP AND WAR" had been made availble online until 30 September 2020, thanks to Belsat and Solidarity Zone.
As accompanying "special" festival director Heleen Gerritsen conducted an interview with the film's director Andrei Kutsila in mid-August, asking about the situation on the streets. The interview is still available to watch on this website.
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STRIP AND WAR
Belarusian filmmaker Andrei Kutsila documents the touching story of a generational conflict, adopting an observational approach. Lifestyles clash in the Minsk apartment which 20-something Anatoliy shares with his grandfather. Grandpa can't understand why his grandson, who possesses a degree in engineering after all, chooses instead to perform in strip clubs, dreaming of an unrealistic dancing career and spending all his hard earned cash on personal hygiene and extravagant costumes. Motivated by the slogan "I'm sexy and I know it!" Anatoliy shows off his ripped physique. In clubs and discos the young man performs to the hooting and hollering of female audiences. The grandson for his part can't appreciate why the old man, a retired army officer, still believes in the communist system. No surprise then that their shared apartment is also home to frequent discussions. And yet, Anatoliy and his grandfather have an awful lot in common too. In the duo's divided living quarters, the parallel worlds of Belarusian society become tangible.
ANDREI KUTSILA
Born in 1983 in Baranovichi, Belarus, Kutsila earned a degree in journalism from the Belarusian State University in 2007. In 2009, he graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. He has made more than 10 short and mid-length films. Kutsila has been a participant in many international training programs - among them IDFAcademy and Berlinale Talents. His documentary GUESTS had its German premiere at goEast in 2016. STRIP AND WAR is his first feature-length documentary film.
Credits
BELARUS, POLAND 2019
68 MIN, DCP, COLOUR
Russian
OV with English Subs
DIRECTOR AND SCREENPLAY
Andrei Kutsila
PRODUCTION
Roman Szafrański
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Studio Sonica for Belsat TV
DISTRIBUTION
Solidarity Zone
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Aliaksandr Shkaruba
Aliaksandr Mihalevich
Andrei Kutsila
SOUND
Viacheslav Kruk
Artyom Busel
Mihail Knut
MUSIC
Hanna Zhdavana
EDITOR
Jaroslaw Kamienski
Andrei Kutsila