The film Malanka (‘Lightning’)

Welcome to our virtual cinema hall! 

https://vimeo.com/721512186
Password for watching the film: MALAM_2020

Subtitles available: Russian and English.
Video with voice-over for persons with low vision can be found at:  

https://vimeo.com/729735734 

Malanka is a screen version of the literary work of the modern Belarusian writer Valery Gapeeu and a directorial debut of Agatha Mikhailava. The film was shot in Belarus in 2020 as the young author’s graduation project. It’s a social fiction thriller which metaphorically presents the fears and complexes of the modern Belarusian society, lack of confidence and unity that disappear in certain extreme circumstances. 

This is what the director says about her debut film: “When I was presenting the film at my university, I was asked why the film had a Belarusian-language name (Malanka), while the actors spoke Russian. It turned out that the ‘Belarusianness’ was the key to the beauty of this film, especially after the events that took place in the country the summer before last (the film was shot before these events). My film appears to be a caricature of the Belarusian society. I wish I could say that this is due to my great qualities as a director, but that wouldn’t be true. The film’s charm is due to the local actors, phantoms, scallies and mentality that can be found only here. The protagonist in the end takes a decisive step forward. I wish my country would eventually do the same..." 

Malanka, 2020
Written by Agatha Mikhailava based on the short story The Bus by Valery Gapeeu.
Director: Agatha Mikhailava.
Cinematographer: Pavel Yakushevich.
Editor: Agatha Mikhailava. 
Sound Director: Maxim Gaurylenka.
Composers: Anton Prakhozhy, Vadzim Pantsin.
Producer: Agatha Mikhailava.
Cast: Mikalay Stonka, Tatsiana Bandarenka, Alana Ayvary, Artsiom Rabushka, Andrey Korzan, Galina Kukhalskaya, Andrey Charnou, Svyatlana Atrashkevich, Svyatlana Akimava, Genadz Abarovich, Natallya Alyaksandrovich. 

Present-time Belarus. 11 passengers from a country town go to Minsk, each with their own purpose. Lightning strikes the bus, and something strange starts to happen. The bus goes around in circles and can’t stop. The passengers, who don’t know each other, have to cooperate and try to figure a way out to survive.

 

Agatha Mikhailava, Director Malanka.
Interview with Film Director