The Son (2014) A film by Arseny Gonchukov

Written and directed by: Arseny Gonchukov. Produced by: Arseny Gonchukov, Vladimir Buzov, Sofia Madyarova, Larisa Dirina. Cinematography by: Konstantin Rassolov. Production Design: Ekaterina Lapynina. Music by: Stanislav Polesko Cast: Alexey Chernykh, Vadim Andreev, Elena Tonunts, Oksana Eardley, Lidiya Omutnykh, Yanina Kogut, Olga Malakhova, Valery Karibyan, Dmitry Kuryanov Brief synopsis. Andrey lives with his sick mother, suffering from a serious disease, schizophrenia. Close relatives are tired of dealing with the disease: his father cut loose from his family long time ago, now he has another family; his sister also left home and for several years no one has heard from her. Only Andrey does not give up - day after day he fosters his sick mother, saves money and compiles documents to take her to Germany for treatment. But the fate is merciless to the main character - his mom dies the day before the departure... Andrey`s world turned upside down ... He hits the road to talk to his sister, to look into his father’s eyes, to understand himself... "The Son" is a parable, a dream. The film is based upon a simple story about complicated relationships between a son and his parents and, what is more important, with himself. The relationships with tragic outcome. Director’s Biography and Filmography. Arseny Gonchukov - director, writer, philologist, playwright. Born on March 19, 1979 in Nizhny Novgorod, now lives in Moscow. Graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod State University, majoring in philology and from the School of Cinema at the Higher School of Economics (Fiction Film Workshop headed by A. Fenchenko). Within the period of 2001 – 2010 has written scripts and shot 15 full-length documentaries for TV Channel One, TV – Russia Channel, The Star TV Channel; chief editor of the series "Preference" for Channel Five with participation of Russian cinema stars. A. Gonchukov is also known as a special correspondent, reporter, deputy director, chief editor of programs and reports on TV Channel One, TV – Russia Channel, TV- Channel Five, The Star TV Channel, Volga Channel. Worked as a special correspondent in South Ossetia in August 2008 during the dramatic events; worked as the second director of "Dragon Syndrome" serial (Channel One, directed by N. Homeriki). In 2009 his play "The Former" was included into a short list of ‘Lyubimovka’ festival. His script "They Never Die From Love" was included into a short-list of ‘The Art of Cinema’ Magazine Contest. Gonchukov is a script writer, director and producer of the short film "The Final Stop" as well as of two full length feature films "1210" (2012) and “The Flight. Three Days After Disaster” (2013), released in Russia and abroad. Participated in the 66th International Cannes Film Festival (the film "The final stop"), is a winner of twelve Russian, foreign and international film festivals, makes ‘auteur cinema’. In 2012 he wrote "Personal manifest of film director", which principles follows in the film industry. "The only possible, true and correct course of action for director is to continue shooting films, and let he does it himself and with no support. Not to think. Not to wait. Not to hope. Just do his job. For so long as you feel strong, for so long as you can work. And do not compromise with your profession. You can do it with producers – you can do and should do. But never with yourself - never. Generally speaking –yes, you can do it, and I often do it though I’m not a young man. But in some special cases – you shouldn’t, as it makes no sense. One day you compromise, next day you have nothing – complete emptiness. On the other hand: if you allow compromise – then what is the good of being a director? In a nutshell: do what you ought to, just make films… Until you have what to shoot… Until you have what to say… That is the main thing. Make films. By all means. I know, it sounds too black-and-white… But this is the only approach which makes me feel alive. This is the sense of life. " A. Gonchukov