The Novgorod Spaceship

On the banks of the River Volga, in the Russian city of Novgorod, a bizarre spaceship landed. This used to be the Dostoevsky Drama Theatre, a modernist masterpiece of unearthly proportions. It was intended to halt the trek to the big cities by promoting the cultural life of Novgorod. Forty years later, it remains an impressive building that recalls the golden years of Soviet Architecture. But local people are less impressed. They calmly watch as the building deteriorates and attracts skaters and junkies. In this enthralling film, Andrei Rozen exposes the soul of the people of Novgorod and tells the story of a unique building designed by an idiosyncratic architect.

Introduction by Mait Väljas