The film earned raving press reviews in Venice, “A devastating thriller about a law enforcer seeking atonement… An intense cat-and-mouse chase…“ As masterfully engrossing as it’s philosophically intricate, the film transitions from the tale of an anti-hero pursuing self-preservation to his, first reluctant, acceptance of personal responsibility in the face of institutionalized evil”. (The Playlist)
The film already won several awards, including Chicago's Best Art Direction award, El Gouna's Bronze Star, NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film, Philadelphia’s Best Narrative Feature.
Produced by trending Russian producers Valeriy Fedorovich and Evgeniy Nikishov (MC2Production), Alexander Plotnikov (LOOKFILM) in co-production with Homeless Bob Production, Estonia, and Kinovista, France, with support of Eurimage Captain Volkonogov Escaped is written and directed by Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov. The film stars rising star Yuri Borisov (Compartment 6, Petrov’s Flu).
The film tells the story of the titular Captain Volkonogov, a well-respected and obedient law enforcer in the former Soviet Union, who witnesses his colleagues being suspiciously questioned. Sensing that his turn will soon come, he plans to escape, only to find his former colleagues hot on his tail. When the vulnerable and hopeless Volkonogov gets a message from hell that he’ll be sentenced to eternal torment, he must find a way to repent. But time is running out and the manhunt is closing in on him.
Starring alongside Borisov is Timofey Tribuntsev (“Petrov’s Flu”), and Natalya Kudryashova, who won the best actress award in Venice’s Horizons section in 2018 for Merkulova and Chupov’s last film, “The Man Who Surprised Everyone.”
“We look forward to bringing this extraordinary film to audiences after its incredible premiere at Venice. Yuriy Borisov’s masterful performance powers the engine of this stunning feature from Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov” said Samuel Goldwyn Films’ Miles Fineburg.
Valeriy Fedorovich, producer “For us it had been a goal not only to reach US viewers, but to do so with the best possible partner who would fall in love with the film and would use tailor-made approach for the release. Samuel Goldwyn Films, the company that had started with Lolita directed by Adrian Lyne with Jeremy Irons and contributed greatly to the evolution of foreign language films’ distribution in US, is the great choice of partner”.
Evgeniy Nikishov, producer: “Samuel Goldwyn Films, especially the case of Danish film Another Round that had received The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film last year, had left no doubts about the right choice of the partner. We are absolutely confident that “Captain Volkonogov Escaped” is in great hands and we are looking forward working together”.
About Samuel Goldwyn Films
Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops, produces and distributes innovative feature films. The company is distributing the 2021 Academy Award® Winning Film ANOTHER ROUND and 2021 Academy Award® Nominated Film THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN. Other upcoming films include.