Discover
Inspired by the memoirs of Marc Chagall and those of his contemporaries, the film blends fact and folklore to evoke the return of the iconic Jewish artist (portrayed by Leonid Bichevin "Cargo 200") to his childhood home of Vitebsk. Having left behind immense success in Paris, Chagall returns to the Russian empire in 1917 in hope to marry the love of his life Bella Rosenfeld (Kristina Schneidermann) he produces copious paintings and establishes the Academy of Modern Art. A rivalry develops with abstract painter Kazimir Malevich (Anatoliy Belyy), invited to teach at the art school. As Bella rekindles a childhood friendship with military Red Commissar Naum (Semyon Shkalikov), Chagall competes for the affections of his muse and future wife. As the October Revolution sweeps across Russia, historical events intrude on personal struggles and upend the quiet provincial life in Vitebsk.
Brimming with surrealistic imagery from the paintings of Chagall and Malevich (over 140 paintings were used in the film), this sumptuous melodrama marks veteran Russian filmmaker Alexander Mitta’s return after a decade-long hiatus.
Original Release
04/03/2014
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Leonid Bichevin | Marc Chagall / Mark Shagal |
Anatoliy Belyy | Kazimir Malevich |
Kristii Schneider | Bella Rozenfeld / Bella Rosenfeld |
Semyon Shkalikov | Naum |
Dmitriy Astrakhan | Rabbi Itzike |
Aleksey Ovsyannikov | Zheleznyak |
Darya Pashkova | Feyga-Ita |
Filipp Zhloba | Saveliy |
Nikita Volkov | Yakov |
Svetlana Tsvichenko | Vera Yermolayeva |
Directors
Writers
Kristii Schneider, Aleksandr Mitta
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Leonid Bichevin | Marc Chagall / Mark Shagal |
Anatoliy Belyy | Kazimir Malevich |
Kristii Schneider | Bella Rozenfeld / Bella Rosenfeld |
Semyon Shkalikov | Naum |
Dmitriy Astrakhan | Rabbi Itzike |
Aleksey Ovsyannikov | Zheleznyak |
Darya Pashkova | Feyga-Ita |
Filipp Zhloba | Saveliy |
Nikita Volkov | Yakov |
Svetlana Tsvichenko | Vera Yermolayeva |
Sergey Migitsko | Izrail Vishnyak |
Tatyana Likhachyova | Vishnyak's Wife |
Vasiliy Ruksha | Amedeo Modigliani |
Yakov Levda | Lyova |
Nona Bulygina | Nina |
Andrey Aksyonov | Gallerist |
Pyotr Artamonov | Chagall's Student / Shagal's student |
Raisa Gribovich | Midwife |
Denis Avkharenko | Chagall's Friend |
Stepan Agapov | Chagall's Student |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Anastasiya Biryukova | Executive Producer |
Elena Gorbunova | Executive Producer |
Larisa Schneidermann | Executive Producer |
Aleksandr Mitta | Producer |
Maksim Koroptsov | Producer |
Dmitriy Korzh | Producer |
Elizaveta Lisovaya | Producer |
Larisa Schneidermann | Producer |