The drama “Two Women” was awarded the Grand Prix of the international Slavic film festival Golden Vityaz. The film was directed by Vera Glagoleva and was based on an eponymous play by Russian writer Ivan Turgenev. The film forum was held in Sevastopol. According to Nikolai Burlyaev, president of the film festival, said that Glagoleva’s film represents “an absolutely new and unique view of this noble and sacrificial love story.”
One of the stars of the film, British actor Ralph Fiennes, took an intensive Russian language course in Moscow in order to prepare for the role. Several years ago the actor promised Vera Glagoleva that he would learn Russian and take part in the film if she could raise the financing to make it. The film was supported in part by the Russian government.
The Golden Vityaz festival also awarded films from Serbia, Bulgaria and Belarus, with more than 200 films screened as a part of the forum. The Golden Vityaz festival has been held for more than a decade as part of the Slavic Arts Forum, which includes theatrical, literary, musical and fine arts contests.
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
