About the film
A teenage boy, Sasha, whose parents have long been divorced, lives with his mother. Yevgeniya Vasilivna loves him deeply and takes tender care of him. After spending the summer with his father — an archaeologist — on an expedition, Sasha returns home determined to move to Novosibirsk to live with him.
His mother accidentally finds out about these plans and is overcome with anxiety. She begins her own, not entirely ethical, investigation to understand what draws her son away — and desperately tries to keep him close.
Themes
In The Long Farewell, Kira Muratova continues the theme she began in her earlier film Brief Encounters — exploring different models of existence. Settled, domestic femininity is brilliantly embodied by actress Zinaida Sharko. The father, with his romantic profession of an archaeologist, appears only in photo slides — surrounded by his son and young female students.
But The Long Farewell focuses on the third figure — the teenager who must decide whether to remain in a world of houseplants, carved furniture, and long social conversations, or to finally grow up and risk starting his own life, separate from his mother.
The son’s conflict with his mother stems not only from their individual temperaments but also from a generational gap: a new generation has emerged, more radical than their parents, ready to rebel against the rigid social norms of the Soviet Union.
It’s no surprise that although the film was completed in 1971, it wasn’t released until 1987. That same year, it received awards at the All-Union Film Festival and the Locarno International Film Festival.
The scandal surrounding the film led to Muratova being stripped of her VGIK diploma and banned from filmmaking for many years.
Recognition
-
Ranked 9th among the 100 greatest films in the history of Ukrainian cinema.
-
Included in the list of the 100 greatest films made by women (2019), compiled by 300 film critics from 84 countries, where The Long Farewell placed 59th.
Screening details
Date and time: November 5, 18:30
Location: Lviv, Jam Factory Art Center, “Auditorium” Hall
Duration: 1 h 37 min
Ticket price: 120 UAH
Discounts:
– 60 UAH for students and pensioners
– Free admission for military personnel and veterans
The film will be screened in Russian with Ukrainian subtitles.
After the screening, there will be a short discussion where viewers can share their impressions.