Natalya Poklonskaya refers to experts’ conclusions and demands a ban on screening Matilda.
The film Matilda centers on the relationship between future emperor of Russia Nicholas II and ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska. MP Natalya Poklonskaya thinks the movie insults the emperor and wants the film to be banned.
She refers to conclusions by experts who analysed the trailers for the film and the script submitted to the Ministry of Culture for approval. The commission came to the conclusion that the “image of Emperor Nicholas II canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church cannot but insult the religious feelings of a considerable part of Orthodox Christians.” Experts also said that the film represents Nicholas II as an “inadequate and morally corrupt person.” Poklonskaya sent a request to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia, asking to ban the film.
The movie is not finished yet. The premiere in Russia is scheduled for this autumn. Matilda’s director Alexei Uchitel comments on Poklonskaya’s statements. He said he was ashamed for the experts who analysed the movie.
“To be honest, I’ve already got tired of Poklonskaya’s war against me and the filming crew. Instead of finishing the film, I have to respond to nonsense, drivel and insults. The so called experts’ conclusion mentions the word ‘manipulation’, but I think it is the actions by the people who haven’t seen the film that can be called a manipulation,” the director said.
Alexei Uchitel noted, stressing the absurdity of the situation, that the experts themselves should meet experts in psychiatry. Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov also commented on the situation. According to him, it’s strange to analyse the film that hasn’t been completed yet. The Kremlin called not to jump to conclusions.
Matilda will premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in Moscow on October 6. The wide release is scheduled for October 26. Polish actress Michalina Olszańska plays ballerina Kschessinska, German actor Lars Eidinger plays Nicholas II. The film also stars famous Russian actors, among them Sergei Garmash and Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė.
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