Russian director Ilya Khrzhanovsky, whose film “DAU” is competing at the Venice Film Festival, addressed criticism from Ukrainian officials regarding alleged links between the project and the Russian state. He expressed support for Ukraine and clarified the film’s financing.
Khrzhanovsky stated, “Look, my position about Russia-Ukrainian war has been very clear from the beginning of the war,” adding that his stance was clear even before the 2022 invasion. He continued, “The only thing I can wish for is peace and success for the Ukrainian government to succeed in the best possible way, to save the country and to win this war.”
The controversy stems from a joint statement released by the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Italy, which criticized the inclusion of “DAU” in the festival, citing its perceived ties to Russian state influence amidst the ongoing war. Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera previously defended the film’s inclusion, describing Khrzhanovsky as a “Russian dissident” who had been blacklisted by the Russian regime.
Regarding the film’s funding, Khrzhanovsky identified Sergei Adoniev as the initial financier, supporting the project from 2008 to 2019. He noted that at the time, Russia was not subject to sanctions. However, he emphasized that the project’s financing has been different for the past seven years.
When asked about Teodor Currentzis, the Greek-Russian classical conductor who stars in the film and has not publicly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Khrzhanovsky said, “Look, I can criticize myself for things. And I prefer to judge myself for things and try to act and behave in a way how I feel it should be and I try to be connected to my spirit and soul and choices.” He added, “Some people choose what I don’t like,” and “I think everyone is responsible for their own choices.”
“DAU,” a 3-hour-and-15-minute film, is based on the life of Soviet physicist Lev Landau, nicknamed Dau, and spans four decades (1928-1968). It is part of a larger “DAU” project encompassing cinema, television, and art, with two previous films released: “DAU. Degeneration” (2019) and “DAU. Natasha” (2020).
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