We Need to Make Films about Love () is a 2024 Russian independent drama film written and directed by and starring Roman Mikhaylov. It is Mikhaylov’s sixth feature-length film. Like his later 2024 film The Firebird, it follows a Russian film crew working in India.
The film premiered on 25 April 2024 at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF).На ММКФ покажут премьеру российской драмы «Надо снимать фильмы о любви» / TASS, 25 April 2024.Film page at MIFF
Plot Actors Mark and Chingiz arrive in Varanasi to take part in an arthouse film shoot led by director Roman. During production, Mark begins a relationship with a Russian woman named Sveta. Tensions arise between personal relationships and the filmmaking process, leading to disappearances, stalled shooting, and conflicts between the director and his cast.
As the boundaries between life and cinema blur, Roman attempts to incorporate reality itself into the film. The final scenes emphasize love as both subject and method, culminating in the director’s assertion that “we should make movies about love.”
Cast Mark Eydelshteyn as Mark Darya Bryukhanova as Sveta Roman Mikhaylov as Roman, director Alexandra Kiseleva as Sasha, actress Maria Matsel as Masha, actress Illarion Marov as Larik, actor Chingiz Garaev as Chingiz, actor Dmitry Kuznetsov (Husky) as Dima (Husky), musician Alina Nasibullina as assistant director
Release Marketing A teaser was released on 17 March 2024. Mikhaylov described the film as a parable about the fragmentation of the world and its healing through love.Роман Михайлов представил тизер проекта «Надо снимать фильмы о любви» / Kulturomania, 17 March 2024.
Theatrical The world premiere took place in the "Russian Premieres" competition at the 46th MIFF, where seven films competed.Открылся 46 Московский международный кинофестиваль / Proficinema, 19 April 2024.ММКФ 2024: программа фестиваля / Proficinema, 2 April 2024. The film received two awards at the festival.
Awards 2024 — Moscow International Film Festival 2024: NETPAC Jury Prize (“For reflecting tenderness in the waters of the Ganges”)ММКФ 2024: победители фестиваля / Proficinema, 26 April 2024. 2024 — MIFF: Prize of the Federation of Film Clubs (‘‘Russian Premieres’’ competition)
Critical reception The film received positive reviews from Russian critics.Юлия Савиковская / Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 26 April 2024.Полина Мякина / Seance, 8 May 2024.Елена Трусова / Proficinema, 26 April 2024.Владимир Ростовский / Film.ru, 25 April 2024.
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