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Cinema

The Island

Остров

Fyodor Khitruk · 1973

Synopsis

A bearded castaway lives alone on a tiny islet lost in the middle of the ocean, where a single palm tree grows, and waits for only one thing: to be rescued. Yet the ocean is far from deserted. Around him come, one after another, policemen who question him, ships that take possession of his rock, lumberjacks who cut down his palm tree, a missionary who consoles him and then abandons him, scientists who examine him and journalists who harass him.

Context

The director wrote this film of about ten minutes himself, without dialogue, to music by Sándor Kallós; Édouard Nazarov handled the art direction. The story proceeds through a series of satirical visits, in which each visitor pursues his own affairs without caring about the castaway. The film was awarded at Cannes in 1974; the festival's list of winners names Nazarov and Vladimir Zouïkov.

Who it is for

An animated short film of under a quarter of an hour, a satire without words, for adults rather than for children.

Prizes and reception

The top award for short films at the Cannes festival.

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