Belarusian Waltz
Belarus has been called “Europe’s last dictatorship.” Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republic with a despotic hand, jailing the opposition, shutting down the press and refusing to investigate the assassinations of dissidents. He has virtually silenced his critics — except for one lone performance artist who stages public stunts mocking the dictator’s pretensions.
Belarusian Waltz is the story of Alexander Pushkin, whose audacious, comical exploits have earned him the hostility of the police and the consternation of his family. An offbeat tale in which post-modern street theater meets 1930s-style authoritarianism, the film offers a surprising window into the soul of the Belarusian people.
Belarusian Waltz was nominated for Emmy, Prix Europa and the European Film Academy Award for Best Documentary Film.
Technical Specifications
Year 2007
Length 74 min, 52 min
Languages Belarusian, Russian
Production companies Piraya Film AS in co-production with ITVS International, MG Production, The Rafto House Foundation and Telewizja Polska S.A
Production countries Norway, Poland
Sales/Distribution International Sales Kudos Family. Festival distribution: The Norwegian Film Institute.
Format BetaCam
World Premiere Prix Europa Festival 2007, Potsdam, Germany
IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1258655
Gallery
Awards
2009 Nomination for Emmy Award – News and Documentary Category
2007 Nomination for Prix Arte – European Film Academy Award for Best Documentary Film
Festivals
2010 Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival
2009 Global Peace Film Festival, Orlando, USA
2009 Amnesty International Film Festival, The Netherlands
2008 Nordox, Beijing
2008 Guth Gafa Documentary Film festival, Ireland
2008 Hot Docs, Toronto
2008 One World Film Festival, Prague
2007 Bergen International Film Festival
2007 Prix Europa, Potsdam, Germany