Refocus: the Films of Larisa Shepitko

Larisa Shepitko's brief but influential directorial career produced a remarkable body of work that received international attention and won her the Golden Bear Awards at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977. Refocus: The Cinema of Larisa Shepitko is the first volume in English to offer a comprehensive analysis of her oeuvre, exploring its significance for filmmakers and scholars in the context of Soviet political and cultural history, war and trauma, history, memory and subjectivity, and ecology and the environment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2024
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Larisa Shepitko, a Soviet Ukrainian director, made a significant impact in the film industry during her brief career from 1963 to 1979. Her work received widespread recognition and acclaim, earning her the Golden Bear Awards at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977. Refocus: The Cinema of Larisa Shepitko is the first English-language book to provide a comprehensive and diverse analysis of Shepitko's oeuvre. It explores the emergence of her cinema within Soviet political and cultural history, as well as its ongoing relevance for contemporary issues such as war and trauma, history, memory and subjectivity, and ecology and the environment.

Shepitko's films often dealt with themes of war and trauma, exploring the psychological and emotional impact of conflict on individuals and communities. Her work often featured strong female characters who struggled to survive and find their place in a world marked by violence and destruction. Shepitko's films also explored the history and memory of the Soviet Union, particularly during the Second World War. Shepitko's films were known for their innovative use of cinematography and editing, which helped to create a unique and immersive cinematic experience.

Despite her success, Shepitko's career was cut short by her untimely death in 1979. She was only 41 years old when she died, and her death was a significant loss to the film industry. However, her work has continued to inspire and influence filmmakers and scholars alike. Her films have been screened at numerous film festivals and have been released on DVD and Blu-ray. Shepitko's legacy continues to grow, and her films are now considered to be some of the most important works of Soviet cinema.

In conclusion, Larisa Shepitko was a remarkable Soviet Ukrainian director who made a significant impact on the film industry during her brief career. Her work received widespread recognition and acclaim, and her films continue to inspire and influence filmmakers and scholars alike. Refocus: The Cinema of Larisa Shepitko is the first English-language book to provide a comprehensive and diverse analysis of Shepitko's oeuvre, and it is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Soviet cinema.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 240 x 162 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399524032