Vera. An Intimate Sketch

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Vera. An Intimate Sketch is a profile of Vera Pavlova, a Russian poet who makes her home both in Moscow and New York.

Conceived and presented in a style of a visual poem, this documentary reveals Vera’s thoughts on love, life, and poetry. Shot in Moscow and New York, the film provides an intimate glimpse into the life of Vera Pavlova, her creative process, and a chance to experience the milieu of her complex, sensual, charming world.

Vera Pavlova's writing explores connections between the body and soul, causing some critics to label her an “erotic poet.” This is a label, however, that Vera refuses to accept. In a January 2010 review of If There is Something to Desire: 100 Poems About Love (Knopf), the reviewer says that the poet “happily disdains lacier romantic moods, giving voice instead to potently distilled emotion, alternately erotic, tender, and maternal.”

Fifteen collections of Pavlova’s poetry have been published prior to this; her verse has been translated into 20 languages. She has read at universities and festivals throughout Russia, Europe, and America, and is appreciated by readers of all ages. Her poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, and Tin House magazine. Her poem “There is Nothing to Desire...” decorated New York City’s subway cars during the MTA's Poetry in Motion project. It was also seen on Los Angeles buses in 2008, as well as graced a Poetry Society of America bookmark.

Music for the film is written by a well-known Moscow composer, Iraida Yusupova.

Documentary, Russian and English (with English subtitles) 30 min., 2010.

Awards

• Award of Merit for Documentary and Direction, Accolade Awards 2010
• Honorable Mention Award in the Short Documentary Category, The Los Angeles International Film Festival 2011.

SCREENINGS

• 64th Cannes Film Festival as a part of Short Film Corner, France, May, 2011
• Anthology Film Archives for the NEW FILMMAKERS NEW YORK Series
• ST. Petersburg Culture Center, Boston, MA, March, 2010

Production Team

• Producer/Director - Yelena Demikovsky
• Camera - Yelena Demikovsky
• Editor - Fatima Benbrahim
• Executive Producer - Brian Singh

Buy DVD

The DVD of Vera. An Intimate Sketch in Russian and English with English subtitles, is now available for purchase.

To pay by check (US orders only): Make check payable to Yelena Demikovsky and mail to Red Palette Pictures, 1133 Broadway, Suite 1505, New York, NY 10010.

For educational or institution orders, please contact: info@redpalettepictures.com.