Sochi Fest

Bury Me Behind the Baseboard

 (Russia)

By LESLIE FELPERIN

A Globus Studio production, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture and Cinematography. (International sales: Globus, Moscow.) Produced by Vladimir Zheleznikov, Mikhail Litvak, Leonid Litvak. Directed, written by Sergei Snezhkin, based on a novel by Pavel Sanaev.
 
With: Sasha Drobitko, Svetlana Kryuchkova, Alexei Petrenko, Maria Shukshina, Konstantin Vorobiev.
 

An 8-year-old boy is torn -- almost literally, at one point -- between his mother and the grandparents who are raising him in the robust, well-executed but excessively noisy Russian family drama "Bury Me Behind the Baseboard." Based on an autobiographical novel by Pavel Sanaev, the screenwriter grandson of famous Soviet-era thesp Vsevolod Sanaev, "Bury Me" could unearth moderate biz domestically. However, writer-helmer Sergei Snezhkin's latest may seem too stagy for offshore distribs.

Set in the early '80s, pic unfolds on the day little Sasha (Sasha Drobitko, tremendous) turns 8 and therefore ought to be allowed to have his annual visit with his mother, Olga (Maria Shukshina). Unfortunately, Sasha's witch of a grandmother (Svetlana Kryuchkova) bears a massive grudge against her daughter and is determined to keep Sasha away from her by dragging the poor kid to yet another doctor's appointment. Sasha's actor grandfather Semyon (Alexei Petrenko) sides weakly with his wife, but Olga won't give up that easily. Some punchy moments of black comedy relieve tension, but Snezhkin (best known for TV work) allows Kryuchkova to overact violently, almost ruining the possibility of emotional nuance. Tech credits are nicely pro.

Camera (color), Vladislav Gurchin; production designer, Maria Grin; costume designer, Olga Farafonova. Reviewed at Sochi Open Russian Film Festival (competing), June 13, 2009. Original title: Pokhoronite menya za plintucom. Running time: 109 MIN.