CUCKOO

director

Alexander Rogozhkin

cast

Anni-Kristiina Juuso, Ville Haapasalo, Viktor Bychkov

producer

Sergei Selyanov

production

Drama, 105 min, CTB Production, Russia, 2002

оriginal title KUKUSHKA language Russian

synopsis

The film takes place during the World War II from the perspective of opposing Soviet and Finnish soldiers stranded at a Sami woman's farmhouse. "Kukushka" was the nickname given by Soviet soldiers to Finnish cuckoo snipers, who ambushed their targets from a purpose-built tree-branch-nest. Thus the title refers to both Veikko (the sniper) and Anni (whose name means cuckoo in Sami, and who is a lone woman living in the forest, much like a cuckoo).

festivals and awards

5 prizes at Moscow IFF: best director, Best Actor - Ville Haapasalo, FIPRESCI PRIX, Audience Prix, Prix of Association of Russian Filmclubs;

Vyborg (Russia): Best Film;

Viareggio (Italy): EuropaCinema Award for Best Film and Best Director.

Noordelijk Film Festival: Cottbus IFF - Dialogue Prize.

Europa Cinema Awards - Best Film and Best Drector (Viareggio IFF).

Russian Film Academy Awards "Golden Eagle" - for Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Actor. (2003)

Russian Film Academy Awards "NIKA" - for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress. (2003)

IFF in Troya, Portugal : Best film, Best Actress (2003)

IFF San-Francisco(USA): Audience Prize