Alexei Uchitel responds to Orthodox Church’s criticism of his film Matilda

A representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Hilarion, earlier called Uchitel’s work the “apotheosis of vulgarity”. He also warned that the screening of the film may cause outrage among believers, protests and riots. The director noted in response that viewers’ tastes differ. He added that his films always had supporters and critics. Uchitel said the church’s threats and remarks on riots were unacceptable.

“According to our legislation, censorship doesn’t have the right to exist. Threats of uprising, riots, disorders and clashes, the things Metropolitan Hilarion threatened with, don’t have the right to exist. I hope the metropolitan understands it as a wise man,” the filmmaker said.

He said it was his own initiative to show the preliminary version of the movie to the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexei Uchitel noted he respected the metropolitan and his opinion. He said the metropolitan had the right to express his views and thanked him for honesty. However, the filmmaker thinks a personal opinion of the church’s representative mustn’t obstruct others from watching the movie and forming their own opinion.

“Like any other filmmaker, I have to tolerate that my audience includes people with tastes like those of Poklonskaya, Milonov and Metropolitan Hilarion. Like any popular art, cinematography unites all people. It’s good. But it’s bad when someone’s opinion prevents others from seeing the film,” Alexei Uchitel explains.

Matilda focuses on the relationship between future emperor of Russia Nicholas II and ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska. The film 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.

Earlier, Russian MP Natalya Poklonskaya filed a complaint to a prosecutor’s office, asking to ban the film. She referred to conclusions by experts who said that the movie distorts the image of Emperor Nicholas II canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church and insults the religious feelings of believers. The Duma’s committee on ethics noted that Poklonskaya’s appeal was lawful as the MP had received a lot of complaints from citizens who were concerned about the film.