If filmmaker Victor Ginzburg has not been an enemy of someone, then very soon he is going to get promoted from this situation as his latest film, “Empire V,” will land him into some serious trouble.
Not not to some regular person or celebrity, Victor Ginzburg might end up being an adversary of Vladimir Putin. Yes, you read it right. Victor Ginzburg might soon land himself in some serious trouble, or maybe not.
The director, originally from Moscow but now based in New York City since his teenage years, frequently goes back to his homeland for work. Throughout his career, he has specialized in incisively analyzing Russian culture from an insider’s perspective.
One notable example of his work is the 1993 documentary titled “Restless Garden,” which delves into the sexual revolution that coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Empire.
Another remarkable work by Victor Ginzburg is the wonderfully eccentric 2011 satire “Generation P”, which takes a satirical look at the advertising industry. The film is an adaptation of the novel by postmodern sci-fi author Victor Pelevin.
However, it is Victor Ginzburg’s latest creation, the horror-comedy “Empire V,” that has garnered significant attention. Surprisingly, this film has faced an official ban by Russia’s Ministry of Culture. Moreover, in a bid to disassociate themselves from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, international film festivals have chosen to overlook “Empire V”, resulting in its limited exposure on the global stage.
Curtains are going to rise from “Empire V”. What is the movie all about?
This Saturday, despite Russia’s reluctance and efforts to suppress it, the vampire movie “Empire V” will finally receive its long-awaited world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. Despite facing bans and attempts to keep it from the public view, the film will finally see the light of day and will be showcased to audiences at this prestigious international festival.
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Based on another novel by Victor Pelevin, Victor Ginzburg’s “Empire V” follows the journey of Roman (played by Pavel Tabakov), a distinguished journalism student from Moscow. In an unexpected turn of events, Roman undergoes a transformation and becomes a vampire.
In a surprising twist, the movie presses on the traditional image of bloodsuckers as nocturnal monsters. Instead, the film shows that they are a secretive ruling class of predatory power brokers. These so-called vampires have clandestinely exerted control over humanity for centuries, operating from the shadows.
“Empire V” masterfully weaves together the mystique of secret societies as seen in the “John Wick” films. Victor Ginzburg’s “Empire V” is a mind-bending satire that delves into themes of conformity, privilege, and the Russian oligarchy.
Why did Victor Ginzburg’s “Empire V” face suppression?
In March 2022, “Empire V” was set to debut on 1,800 screens in Russia; however, the country’s Ministry of Culture halted its release just a few days later. Although the producers were said to have applied for the wrong age rating, many believe that the true reason for the suppression was the film’s subtly subversive nature.
It is possible that the outspoken anti-war views expressed by one of its stars might have contributed to the decision to quash its release.
In an interview from his home in New York, Ginzburg expressed his belief that the controversy surrounding another film, “Oxy,” provided a convenient excuse for the authorities to crack down on his film. Ginzburg mentioned that “Empire V” is a subtle satire, making it challenging to outright censor.
However, due to the political climate and the perception of “Oxxxy” as an enemy, it became a convenient pretext for suppressing “Empire V” and restricting its release in Russia.
Empire V has secured distribution by Sony Pictures in territories of the former Soviet Union, encompassing Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Ginzburg’s aspiration is that the premier in Montreal will generate interest, leaving it to potential release in North America and Europe. Moreover, he remains hopeful that this exposure will eventually pave the way for the film to reach Russian audiences in the future.
Empire V was screened on July 29 at 9:45 p.m. as part of Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival.
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