Alexandr Rastorguev

Directing

Alexandr Rastorguev

Born 1971-06-26 · Rostov na Donu, USSR (Russia)

Alexander Yevgenyevich Rastorguev (Russian: Алекса́ндр Евге́ньевич Расторгу́ев; born 26 June 1971, Rostov-on-Don — died 31 July 2018, Sibut, CAR) was a Russian documentary filmmaker, cinematographer and producer. He is considered one of the main and iconic Russian documentary director. He is close in his search for the "new drama", the direction of work Theatre.doc. He collaborated with Vitaly Mansky as a screenwriter and producer. Born in 1971 in Rostov-on-Don (USSR, Russia). He studied at the Faculty of Philology of Rostov State University. In 1999, he graduated from the State Academy of Theater Arts in St. Petersburg (1998). He worked as a director of GTRK "Don-TR". For shooting the film "Clean Thursday", the creative team of the film was dismissed by the management of "Don-TR". He worked in the St. Petersburg edition of the NTV TV channel. In 2001, he organized the Kino Studio. As a director, he co-directed the documentary films "I Love You" (2010) and "I Don't Love You" (2012) with the documentary filmmaker Pavel Kostomarov. The films were presented at several foreign film festivals (France, the Netherlands). In 2011, Alexander Rastorguev presented his film "I Love You" in the competition program of the Rotterdam Festival. In 2009, Alexander Rastorguev wrote specifically for OpenSpace.ru manifesto of the new cinema. He was killed on July 30, 2018, along with two colleagues — Orhan Dgemal and Kirill Radchenko — in the Central African Republic. There, according to media reports, he made a film about the activities of the "Wagner Group".

Acting credits

Behind the camera

My Friend Boris Nemtsov poster
NR

An intimate portrait of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov — once Deputy Prime Minister and “an heir of President Yeltsin”, later an uncompromising adversary of Putin — that was assassinated near the Kremlin in February 2015. Election campaigns and hotel beds, protest rallies and office routine, train compartments and courtrooms, night walks and police vans – you have never seen any politician so close. This is a story how a journalist assignment turns into a genuine friendship.

My Friend Boris Nemtsov

2015

The Term. Beginning of a Big Story poster
4.2

The documentary project The Term was conceived in May 2012. When the directing trio commenced mapping the Russian sociopolitical landscape, Vladimir Putin had just settled into the Kremlin for his third term. The original experimental format of “documentary bulletins,” which were published daily online, allowed for wide-ranging content; in the feature film version, however, the filmmakers focused solely on the members of various opposition groups. Nevertheless, the work’s neutral position remains and viewers have to interpret the objectively presented situations for themselves. The main characteristics of this strongly authentic movie include close contact with the protagonists, precise editing, and an effectively controlled release of information.

The Term. Beginning of a Big Story

2014

The Term. Beginning of a Big Story poster
4.2

The documentary project The Term was conceived in May 2012. When the directing trio commenced mapping the Russian sociopolitical landscape, Vladimir Putin had just settled into the Kremlin for his third term. The original experimental format of “documentary bulletins,” which were published daily online, allowed for wide-ranging content; in the feature film version, however, the filmmakers focused solely on the members of various opposition groups. Nevertheless, the work’s neutral position remains and viewers have to interpret the objectively presented situations for themselves. The main characteristics of this strongly authentic movie include close contact with the protagonists, precise editing, and an effectively controlled release of information.

The Term. Beginning of a Big Story

2014

White Mama poster
9.0

Аlina Makarova is a mother of six of her own children and one adopted child. Her ex husband is from Ethiopia, and all her own children are mixed race. Only her adopted son is white, but he has serious health problems and is psychologically unstable. Alina's older children realise what complications the adoption might bring and are afraid that there won't be enough room, time and love for everyone. But she convinces them that it's the right thing.

White Mama

2018

How Big Is the Galaxy? poster
1.5

The Zharkov family-father, mother and two young sons-belong to the Dolgan community, one of the last indigenous peoples pursuing their traditional nomadic life in the extreme north of Siberia. The children used to be sent to boarding school, where they became estranged from their family and culture, but nowadays they can get homeschooling from teachers assigned to them by the Russian authorities. Seven-year-old Zakhar and his older brother Prokopy are the protagonists in this calm, observational film. Zakhar's first year of schooling is with Nelly, a young but serious teacher. She tells him about President Putin and the importance of mathematics, and he learns classical poems by heart.

How Big Is the Galaxy?

2018

I Love You poster
5.4

These are the stories of the three guys,three friends, living in a city in the south of Russia. In the course of a year they recorded their everyday lives with a small HDcam. This record is what comprises the movie and to what it is dedicated. Our heroes are eighteen years old and they live average lives: work, have parties and, fall in love. But finally they will have to make those most important of personal choices which will define their future.

I Love You

2011

I Don't Love You poster
6.8

A youth comedy about the tragedy of the first love. An experiment in the area of the film language. REC, accidentally pressed in the middle of a fight. Jealosies, breakups, reunions. A few bedroom scenes, shot with a home camera. Cries and whispers of the urban outskirts. The audience of the film are both Bergman fans and YouTube viewers.

I Don't Love You

2012

I Don't Love You poster
6.8

A youth comedy about the tragedy of the first love. An experiment in the area of the film language. REC, accidentally pressed in the middle of a fight. Jealosies, breakups, reunions. A few bedroom scenes, shot with a home camera. Cries and whispers of the urban outskirts. The audience of the film are both Bergman fans and YouTube viewers.

I Don't Love You

2012

It's Been Three Years poster
NR

The main character of the film, Alexander Strizhenova, became famous in talk shows and tabloid media as the daughter of a Soviet actress, Natalya Strizhenova, who grew up without a father - but this is not mentioned in the film by Rastorguev. Sasha, beaten by life, when we meet her, lives in a cluttered and untidy village house somewhere in the Moscow Region with her husband, with whom they swear dirtyly in the presence of their young son Ilya. Sasha smokes, drinks and endlessly suffers from a lack of love and from the fact that no one can understand it. Three years later, the viewer again sees her life - in another place, with another man and with a new child, but in about the same circumstances.

It's Been Three Years

2018

Semyon's Mother poster
NR

On June 12, Vladivostok schoolboy Semyon Golubovsky came to a rally organized by Alexei Navalny. There, police officers approached him and took him to the police station. After that, Semyon was сhastised at his school and was told that he was putting an end to his future.

Semyon's Mother

2017

I am Nobody poster
NR

Alexey Navalny began his election campaign in the regions of Russia with a trip to Murmansk. Thousands of citizens came to his rally, and in the rain. This is the success of local activists who organized the rally and selflessly campaigned. Alexander Rastorguyev and Dmitry Kuvaldin spent several days together with the coordinator of Navalny's Murmansk headquarters, Violetta Grudina , an LGBT activist who was attacked because of her sexual orientation.

I am Nobody

2017

I am Nobody poster
NR

Alexey Navalny began his election campaign in the regions of Russia with a trip to Murmansk. Thousands of citizens came to his rally, and in the rain. This is the success of local activists who organized the rally and selflessly campaigned. Alexander Rastorguyev and Dmitry Kuvaldin spent several days together with the coordinator of Navalny's Murmansk headquarters, Violetta Grudina , an LGBT activist who was attacked because of her sexual orientation.

I am Nobody

2017

Tender's Heat: Wild Wild Beach poster
4.8

A drunk couple spend their summer-holiday at sea. Their life is not everything they hoped for, and abuse is part of their relationship. At sea they dream about love and understanding, and we observe their fellow countrymen spending their holidays on the same beach. Tragedy, comedy, love, hate, sex : it is all there.

Tender's Heat: Wild Wild Beach

2006

Clean Thursday poster
5.7

Not far from Grozny, on an alternate railroad track, there is an old steam locomotive with several wagons attached to it. The steam engine gives steam — hot water is in the boilers, and a bathhouse is equipped in the cars, where soldiers and officers wash, laundry is washed ... A washing on wheels — at the same time a soldier’s bivouac, a piece of peaceful life, and the beginning of a new road. To this locomotive, these cars come - platooned, in batches and one at a time - tired, tired, unshaven, angry Russian guys. They scrape dirt off themselves. Soak from stubborn soot, warm with souls. They put on clean underwear. They drink vodka. They smoke. They talk about love, remember loved ones and native places. Cry. They sing. And around - the landscape after the battle. It's not over yet ... An accidental explosion. Stray bullet. And our guys washed into the unknown. Clean. Hoping to survive.

Clean Thursday

2003

Clean Thursday poster
5.7

Not far from Grozny, on an alternate railroad track, there is an old steam locomotive with several wagons attached to it. The steam engine gives steam — hot water is in the boilers, and a bathhouse is equipped in the cars, where soldiers and officers wash, laundry is washed ... A washing on wheels — at the same time a soldier’s bivouac, a piece of peaceful life, and the beginning of a new road. To this locomotive, these cars come - platooned, in batches and one at a time - tired, tired, unshaven, angry Russian guys. They scrape dirt off themselves. Soak from stubborn soot, warm with souls. They put on clean underwear. They drink vodka. They smoke. They talk about love, remember loved ones and native places. Cry. They sing. And around - the landscape after the battle. It's not over yet ... An accidental explosion. Stray bullet. And our guys washed into the unknown. Clean. Hoping to survive.

Clean Thursday

2003

Electing Russia poster
7.0

Schoolboy Semyon Golubovsky, Vladivostok. Students Egor Chernyuk and Oleg Alexeev, Kaliningrad. Entrepreneur Viktor Barmin, Yekaterinburg. Activist Violetta Grudina, Murmansk. Minibus driver Vladimir Semenov, Astrakhan. What unites these people? All of them are activists of regional headquarters created for the campaign of Alexey Navalny, who announced his self-nomination for the post of President of the Russian Federation. And all of them are the heroes of the film "Electing Russia."

Electing Russia

2018

Electing Russia poster
7.0

Schoolboy Semyon Golubovsky, Vladivostok. Students Egor Chernyuk and Oleg Alexeev, Kaliningrad. Entrepreneur Viktor Barmin, Yekaterinburg. Activist Violetta Grudina, Murmansk. Minibus driver Vladimir Semenov, Astrakhan. What unites these people? All of them are activists of regional headquarters created for the campaign of Alexey Navalny, who announced his self-nomination for the post of President of the Russian Federation. And all of them are the heroes of the film "Electing Russia."

Electing Russia

2018

Childhood, Summer and War poster
NR

This movie is about children who live every day with a reminder of war and enemies. This happens in today's Russia, in the city of Belaya Kalitva in the Rostov region. Teens take Cossack education.

Childhood, Summer and War

2018

Childhood, Summer and War poster
NR

This movie is about children who live every day with a reminder of war and enemies. This happens in today's Russia, in the city of Belaya Kalitva in the Rostov region. Teens take Cossack education.

Childhood, Summer and War

2018

I Will Dance poster
NR

A portrait of Richard Semashkov, a rapper famous for anti-liberal songs and friendship with Prilepin and other "patriotic" artists.

I Will Dance

2017

Last Day! poster
NR

On April 23, after 11 days of mass protests, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned. About how the opposition led by Nikol Pashinyan won - the film “Last Day”.

Last Day!

2018

Mummies poster
8.0

Yulia is sixteen, she lives in a hut and is pregnant. Vanya lives with his parents in a five-story building. His parents are against mesalliance and do not let the couple on the threshold.

Mummies

2001

Scar Tattoo poster
NR

Ufa tattoo artist covers traces of violence with flowers.

Scar Tattoo

2017

Deer Master poster
4.5

Zakhar is 7 years old, and his brother Procopius is 9. Each of the brothers already has its own deer and its own tundra for wandering. Previously, children born into a nomad family at this age were almost forcibly taken away to study in a boarding school on the mainland. And they rarely returned to the parental home. Trying to preserve the traditions of the nomadic peoples in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the authorities decided to revive the practice of "nomadic schools" that disappeared in Russia in the 30s. That’s how the 23-year-old Nelli Andreevna falls into the Zharkov family in order to explain to Zakhar and Prokopy what a mathematician is needed in life and who Vladimir Putin is.

Deer Master

2016