Cambridge Symposium on Savchenko with Special Guest Marlen Khutsiev

[S. K. Larsen]

The Programme in Ukrainian Studies and the Department of Slavonic
Studies at Cambridge University present a Symposium on:  ’A Hidden
History of Soviet Cinema: The Legacy of Ihor Savchenko’

10 and 11 November 2011, Winstanley Lecture Theatre, Trinity College, Cambridge

 Filmmaker Ihor Savchenko (1906-1950) is a prolific and influential
near contemporary of Dovzhenko and Eisenstein whose body of work
remains little known in the West.   Born in Vinnitsa in what is now
the Republic of Ukraine, Savchenko  started his filmmaking career in
Baku before moving to work in major studios in Moscow and Kiev.  His
films include the first Soviet musical, light romantic comedies,
wartime epics, and controversial biopics.  Among the students in his
directing master class at the All-Union State Institute of
Cinematography (VGIK) were some of the most celebrated filmmakers of
the post-Stalin era:  Marlen Khutsiev, Sergei Parajanov, Aleksandr
Alov and Vladimir Naumov.

The Symposium brings together scholars from Ukraine, Russia, Germany,
the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss Savchenko’s
diverse oeuvre:  from recently discovered archival material about his
‘lost’ agitprop films of the early 1930s to his transition to sound in
Accordion  (1934), from  a romantic comedy set in a toy factory to
historical films of epic sweep.  Speakers at the Symposium will
include film scholars Natascha Drubek-Meyer, Julian Graffy, Nikolai
Izvolov, Lilya Kaganovsky, Sergei Kapterev,  Marlen Khutsiev, Serhii
Trymbach and Emma Widdis.

Special Screening with Director Marlen Khutsiev:  We are delighted to
announce that, as a conclusion to our investigation of Savchenko’s
legacy, Mr Khutsiev will screen excerpts from his current work in
progress, Nevecherniaia [Not Evening Yet, 2003-?] , a film inspired by
two meetings between Anton Chekhov and Lev Tolstoy.

In order to facilitate graduate student participation in this event,
the Symposium has some funding to assist Ph.D. students from other
universities with accommodation and travel costs.  Students who wish
to apply for this funding should send a short c.v. and a brief letter
indicating the relevance of the Symposium to their research interests
as soon as possible, but not later than 21 October to Susan Larsen
(sl545 at cam.ac.uk).

Accommodation in Cambridge during the Symposium:  We have reserved a
few rooms on the night of 10 November in College accommodation for
out-of-town participants.  These may be booked at relatively low rates
(50-60 pounds/night).  We are currently holding  a few singles, a twin
and a double room (all en suite).  If you would like to book one of
these rooms, please contact Sean Durman as soon as  possible at Sean
Durman <slavon at hermes.cam.ac.uk> .

Registration for the conference is free, but we will ask for a small
fee (£3), payable on the day,  from everyone who wishes to join in the
light lunch on Friday.   We  would be grateful if you could indicate
your plans to attend the conference as soon as possible, but not later
than 4 November, so that we will be able to update you on any changes
in the programme and make catering arrangements.   Please indicate
your plans to attend the event by email to  Sean Durman
<slavon at hermes.cam.ac.uk> .

PROGRAMME :

THURSDAY, 10 November
2.00	Susan Larsen (Cambridge):  Introductions and Welcome,  ‘Why
Savchenko Matters’
2.30	Nikolai Izvolov (Moscow),  'Savchenko's Lost Agit-Prop Films'.
Dr Izvolov will speak in Russian.  An English summary of his
presentation will be provided at the event.  	Consecutive translation
will be provided for question and answer session.
3.30	Screening:   The First Soviet Musical: Savchenko's Accordion (
Garmon', 1934), 56 minutes. 	Introduction by Natascha Drubek-Meyer
(Regensburg).    Screened in Russian without subtitles.  A brief
summary in English will be provided.
4.45 Coffee
5.00	Lilya Kaganovsky (Urbana-Champaign),  'Savchenko's transition to
Sound in Garmon'',  followed by general discussion of the film.
BREAK FOR DINNER
7.00	Screening:   Bogdan Khmel'nitskii (1941). Screened in Russian
without subtitles.  Introduction by Sergei Kapterev (Moscow)


FRIDAY, 11 November
9.00	 Coffee
9.30	Julian Graffy (London) and Emma Widdis (Cambridge),  'Two Takes
on Soviet Sensuality in Savchenko's  Chance Meeting'  (Sluchainaia
vstrecha, 1936)
10.30 Sergei Kapterev (Moscow),  'Savchenko's Wartime Epics:  Bogdan
Khmel'nitskii  (1941), The 	Russian Sailor: Ivan Nikulin (1944)  and
The Third Strike (1948)'
11.15 Coffee.
11.30  Serhii Trymbach  (Kiev),  'Dovzhenko, Savchenko, Parajanov:
The Power of Art vs. the 	Power of the State.' Speaking in
Russian/Ukrainian with consecutive translation
12.30 Light lunch
1.30	Savchenko's Legacy:  A Conversation with  Marlen Khutsiev
(Moscow), in response to 	questions from guest speakers and  Dr
Evgenii Margolit, who is unable to attend the Symposium, but whose
paper will be circulated to participants at the event.  Mr Khutsiev
will speak in Russian with consecutive translation
3.00	Screening:  Excerpts from Marlen Khutsiev's current
film-in-progress, Nevecherniaia 	[Not Evening Yet, 2003-?], followed
by discussion.
5.00 Thanks and concluding remarks


Participants in the Symposium are invited to stay on for the Fourth
Annual Cambridge Festival of Ukrainian Film which begins at 6.30 pm on
Friday, 11 November, in the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse with
screenings of short films by Volodymyr Tykhyi, Maryna Vroda, and other
young, critically-acclaimed directors charging new artistic, social,
and political horizons.  These films will be followed by a special Q&A
with directors Tykhyi and Vroda, whose 'Cross' won the 2011 Palme d'Or
at Cannes.

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