Day of the Full Moon () is a 1998 parable drama film directed by Karen Shakhnazarov. It premiered on television on November 2, 1998, on TNT.
Plot The film unfolds as a series of episodes from the lives of different people across various eras. It lacks a singular protagonist or a cohesive narrative thread. Instead, the movie is structured like a kaleidoscope of scenes where reality intertwines with romantic memories. The harsh, almost naturalistic visuals transform into a poetic journey through time and space.
Set at the end of the 20th century, the film presents a collection of seemingly unrelated individuals reenacting life scenarios. Unbeknownst to them, their actions ripple through time, affecting strangers' lives.
The film features "new Russians" caught in yet another violent conflict, a popular DJ hosting a late-night broadcast, an elderly Uzbek man explaining to his grandson where Genghis Khan is buried, a successful hitman, Princess Olshanskaya, a mysterious monk named Taisiy, an international diplomat, and even Alexander Pushkin himself, who meets a beautiful Kalmyk woman on his journey to Erzurum.
Cast Anna Germ as Woman in Purple Andrei Panin as Captain Elena Koreneva as Zoya Vladimir Ilyin as Rebrov Valery Priyomykhov as Screenwriter Valery Storozhik as Oleg Nikolayevich, Director Valery Afanasyev as Yegor, Businessman Galina Anisimova as Vera Anna Sinyakina as Call Girl / Dead Princess Olshanskaya Filipp Yankovsky as Monk Nikolay Chindyaykin as Slava Nadezhda Vasilyeva as Borte Aleksei Shevchenkov as Nikolai, Waiter Vasily Zotov as Young Man in Restaurant Andrei Tsygankov as Killer Natalya Fateyeva as Railroad Inspector Fyodor Sukhov as Valera Efim Alexandrov as Diplomat's Friend Yevgeny Stychkin as A. S. Pushkin Villor Kuznetsov as Aged Waiter Andrei Lebedev as Ivanov, Foreign Minister Maxim Lagashkin as Guy in the Courtyard Oksana Timanovskaya as Irina Yelena Shevaldykina as Natasha from Vladivostok Malcolm McDowell as Train Driver (uncredited) Gennady Khrapunkov in a cameo Dmitry Osipov as Conference Speaker Alexander Robak as Seryoga
Crew Director: Karen Shakhnazarov Writers: Karen Shakhnazarov, Alexander Borodyansky Cinematographer: Gennady Karyuk Composer: Anatoly Kroll Art Director: Lyudmila Kusakova Producers: Vladimir Dostal, Galina Shadur
Awards and nominations Special Prize and Special Mention by the FIPRESCI jury at the 33rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Czech Republic, 1998). Presidential Council Prize at the 9th Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival (1998). Nika Award for Best Screenplay to Alexander Borodyansky and Karen Shakhnazarov (1999).
References
External links
Day of the Full Moon at the Encyclopedia of Russian Cinema (archived) Film Day of the Full Moon in the Mosfilm online cinema