"Russian director makes new film in Vatican City"
The new movie Faust by Russian director Alexander Sokurov premiered in St Petersburg on January 21 as the final part of his tetralogy, described by the acclaimed filmmaker as "the work devoted to history and people".
The movie, currently under production, has received praise from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. "The film is an interesting work that deals with the human soul without touching economy, business or politics," Mr Putin said during his speech in Dresden, Germany, on January 17. "This movie relates to something in the core of spiritual closeness between Europe, Germany and Russia," Mr Putin said.
There have been rumors that Mr Sokurov has chosen Mr Putin as the main character of his new movie, with the previous three parts of the tetralogy centred around Adolph Hitler, Vladimir Lenin and Emperor of Japan Hirohito. |"The film is the screen version of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play Faust and its main characters certainly have nothing to do with the Russian Prime Minister," the movie producer Andrei Sigle addressed the rumours, adding that the film budget is estimated at about 12 million euros.
Interestingly, Mr Sokurov has become the first Russian filmmaker who get permission to shoot a movie in Vatican City.
"Vladimir Putin appoints Head of Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulations"
On January 19, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin appointed Igor Chuyan Head of Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulations, established by President Dmitry Medvedev in late December. Previously, Mr Chuyan had served as head of Federal state unitary enterprise Rosspirtprom. The newly established Service is subordinate to the Russian Government and in charge of the state policy and legal regulations in the sphere of production and distribution of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic drinks and beverages, as well and monitoring and providing related services.
Alexander Grishin