Opening Night Film
Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer
The 2013 edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest opens on 12 June with the UK Premiere of Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer
Wednesday 12 June / 20:30 / Showroom Cinema
They knew how to make an impact: Pussy Riot’s performance inside a Russian cathedral might have lasted just a few seconds, but its repercussions continue to rock the Russian state. Mike Lerner and Maxim Pozdorovkin’s absorbing documentary brings us straight into the centre of the ensuing trial, where three members stand accused of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”. The filmmakers obtain astonishing access to the legal system, including the courtroom, where the girls murmur from within the confines of a glass cage at the sometimes farcical mayhem around them. Reviled by much of the Russian public, with even their closest family struggling to defend their actions, they stand firm by their convictions – and hatred of Putin. A truly compelling immersion into the clash between a generation determined to challenge an oppressive status quo, with those who are equally determined to maintain it.
Priority access will be available to Doc/Fest delegates for this very special night. Don't miss out:
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The full Doc/Fest film programme Films A-Z