Vulkanovka is a poor village in Crimean steppe, as local people say, forgotten by God and by people. Nonetheless that place came very much alive when famous Lithuanian film director Sharunas Bartas crew stayed here for almost two years filming Seven Invisible Men. Most of local people helped filmmakers a good deal. But the Grand Cinéma left and probably won’t come back. So the life of Vulkanovka returned to its usual routine. But it’s not for everyone.
Film director Giedre Beinoriute with her crew came to Vulkanovka nine months later. In her documentary people speak about their “cinematographic” experience with great enthusiasm. They tell about how it was and how it was different from their earlier understanding about filmmaking. Some of course agree to speak for two roubles. Women and girls miss the shooting process a lot and could gladly repeat everything once again. These moods and people’s openness are interwoven into daily life of Vulkanovka with its rituals of caws’ feeding, shopping in the only shop “Produkty”, collecting metal etc.
Awards:
Lithuanian Cinematographers Union award, 2005
A prize from the Lithuanian Cultural Ministry for the best professional debut in the arts (films “Vulkanovka. After the Grand Cinéma“ and „Existence“), 2006.
2nd prize at IFF “Kinoshock”, “Cinema without film” competition (
Anapa, ), 2006
Honourable mention at IFF Curtas Vila do Conde (Vila do
Conde, ), 2006
