Russian Director Aleksey German Jr. Talks His Controversial War Film ‘Air’ and Calls for Dialogue Over Ukraine: ‘It Is Impossible to Cancel Russian Culture’ (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comPatrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief As Russia’s war in Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, leading Russian director Aleksey German Jr. (“House Arrest,” “Under Electric Clouds”), is currently giving “Air,” his state-funded WWII thriller, a commercial release in Russian cinemas.
With ferocious action and cruel detail, “Air” has been called out for being a patriotic film. It depicts the struggles of a group of female pilots to be allowed to fight alongside male colleagues on the Russo-German front lines in 1943-44.
Grudgingly, they are given their chance. While many die along the way, those that survive buck the established patriarchy and gain the recognition they crave – as heroes and professional killers.
Variety spoke with German Jr. at the recent Festival of Young Cinema in Macau, which was only the second festival to play the film following its premiere in Tokyo late last year.
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