ROADS TO KOKTEBEL

Russia, 2003, 105 minutes, Colour.
Gleb Puskepalis, Igor Chernevich.
Directed by Boris Khlebnikof and Alexei Popogrebsky.

Roads to Koktebel is a story of father and son, the father a widower, journeying with his son, aged eleven, to the Crimea from Moscow. They hitchhike, get casual work along the way, get on empty carriages in trains. The film shows the strong relationship between father and son, the son learning much from his educated father who has had a drinking problem. The father cares for the son.

The film focuses on the often drab and desolate landscapes through which they travel, the wintry look, the isolation and loneliness. They meet a number of people who help them but clash with an old man who persuades the father to return to drink. The journey ends in the Crimea, a sunlit sea resort, crowded streets, contemporary living where the boy has to ponder his future and his father comes to get him to shape the future.

The film is strong emotionally, the performance are very good. The film is a road and journey film but it also highlights the human dimensions of the story.

1. A Russian perspective, contemporary life in Russia, hardships, family, opportunities lost?

2. The filming of the countryside, the wintry look, the fields, the old homes, villages, the railway track and the trains? The contrast with Crimea, the modern town and shops, the crowded streets, the houses, the beach? The musical score?

3. The title, the journey, a goal for father and for son?

4. The opening shot, the two-minute single-shot focus on the drain, the rain, the father and the son coming out, their camping gear, the style of observation of the film? Aerial shots, landscapes? The hand-held camera? The film often from the boy's point of view - and his height. The scenes from the father's point of view? Comparisons and contrasts?

5. The back-story, the father, the death of the mother, his work, his skill with building planes, his education, drinking, collapse? The decision to move? Starting again? His son, the strong relationship of love between the two? The rapport between them, the father educating his son, for example the story of the albatross and its wingspan, the boy having to memorise his aunt's address?

6. Their fending for themselves, in the drain, in the rain, on the road, in the forest? In the train carriage, the stop, the father trying to get apples, having to chase the train? The guard getting them off, their fears, giving them food and drink, shelter? The railway town, the young girl and the boy going to the shop? On the road, the house, the storm? The old man and his suspicion, giving them shelter, the work on the roof? Success, the two men drinking, the father's collapse, the old man hunting him away, accusing him of robbery? Shooting him? The boy going to the doctor for help, the village, the hospital? The boy not wanting to stay, his father with the woman, the boy's jealousy, his moving away, the visualising of the boy on the hill, decisions, destinations?

7. The boy, his character, age, experience? With his father, on the train? With Tania, the smoking, glancing at her leg? At the shops? His being in the house, the father and his fixing the roof, his playing? Tending his father, going to the doctor? His moving away, travelling to the Crimea, the house, the woman giving him the information, his sleeping on the beach, sitting on the pier?

8. The character of the father, his collapse, making a move, trying to start again, fending for his son, working on the roof, the drinking after refusing so much, the clash with the old man, being shot, the doctor tending his wound, the woman in the village?

9. The guard, his intimidating father and son, his providing them with food and drink? Tania and her friendliness? Their getting lifts? The old man, his character, suspicions, the mending of the roof, the drinking, the father looking for more drink, the fight, the accusations, the shooting? The woman in the Crimea with information about the boy's aunt?

10. Themes of loneliness, the boy in the crowd in Crimea yet feeling separate? The night on the beach, sitting on the pier?

11. The father arriving, their being together again, their future?