“We will become better” By Andzej Gavriss
The two lovers in this stirring new film are separated not only by distance but also by circumstances: Russia’s anti-gay laws and mainstream homophobia mean that their relationship is threatened by violence, and now even the constitution.
One year after Vladimir Putin changed the constitution to ban same-sex marriage with an amendment that explicitly defines marriage as between a man and woman, a new Russian short film is seeking to challenge widespread negativity towards the LGBTQIA+ community and promote the message: love is universal.
It’s a simple message, but one which carries immense personal risk for the creative team behind ‘We Will Become Better’. Not only does it potentially infringe Russia’s notorious 2013 ‘gay propaganda’ law – which criminalizes representations of the LGBTQIA+ community and their relationships – homophobic sentiment and hate crimes are rife across the former Soviet Union. Adding fuel to the fire are a recent wave of adverts designed to drum up support for the constitutional amendment, which presents LGBTQIA+ people in offensive and cliched ways, from an ice cream that promises to ‘turn you straight’ to a dire warning about gay adoptive parents.
Against this backdrop of hate – and with recent reports showing that many Russians reportedly feel negatively towards the LGBTQIA+ community, Moscow’s LGBTQIA+ organizations were galvanized into action. Seeking to challenge the culture of mainstream negativity, they reached out to Russian creative agency, VOSKHOD, which brought together a host of sympathetic allies to the cause, including writer Evgeny Primachenko, director Andzej Gavriss and Russian band Sansara.
The resulting film – co-produced by Daddy’s Film and Spot - alongside international production partner HALAL – is a powerful yet nuanced protest against offensive, narrow portrayals of same-sex relationships. Released to mark the one-year anniversary of the controversial constitutional change, it calls on the Russian public to ‘become better’. “This is the first Russian LGBTQIA+ film in years that actually portrays a gay relationship,” adds Gavriss. “It’s about pure love. And if the Russian audience feel for the couple, hopefully that can change their minds.”
‘We Will Become Better’ is released on YouTube, in the run up to July 4th which marks the one-year anniversary of the controversial Russian constitution change. The film ends with a link toLGBTNET.ORG - an organization which is an advocate for respect and tolerance towards the gay community in Russi
Credits
Snegiri-music LLC, under exclusive license to Warner Music Ltd.
Sound company Grand Central Recording Studios
Directed by Andzej Gavriss
Story by Evgeny Primachenko
Written by Evgeny Primachenko, Andzej Gavriss
DOP: Andrey Nikolaev
Production Designer: Julija Fricsone Gavriss
Creative Director: Evgeny Primachenko
Agency: VOSKHOD
Line Producer: Alexandra Galius
Executive Producer: Egor Solomatin, Marizov Mikhail, Evgeny Primachenko
Associate Producer: Gijs Determeijer, Ulia Petrova
Editor: David Gesslbauer
Choreographer: Konstantin Koval
Music: Sansara feat Felix Bondarev
Sound Design: Raja Sehgal, Markus Ffitch, Grand Central Recording Studios
Color: Matt Osborne
1st AD: Maksim Kulish
Color Producer: Blake Rice
Cast Nikita Orlov, Maksim Avdeev
Production Manager: Mikhail Goglov, Dmitry Dimchevsky
Location Manager: Aleksandr Kalkaev
Gaffer: Nikolay Vakhrameev
Set Decorator: Maria Shymchuk, Slava Chulikov
Property Master: Maria Shymchuk
Property Assistant: Daniil Sviridov, Ilya Novik
Focus Puller: Viktor Saratov, Igor Gusev
Keygrip: Sergey Irgizcev
Steadicam: Danil Voytov, Sergey Avdonin
Light Crew: Evgeny Gavrilov, Aleksey Egiazaryan, Sergey Skokov, Vadim Kodzhebash, David Dzhayani, Roman Ivanovsky
Pult Operator: Vladimir Ovchinikov
On set editor: Dmitry Buleyko
Camera Rental: YOURENTAL
Stylist: Oksana Markina
Stylist Assistant: Ekaterina Pavlova
PA: Mark Privalov, Sergey Poyarkov
Makeup: Tatiana Polyakova
Stunt: Oleg Chemadurov
Rig: Rodion Klochkov, Aleksandr Kraevskiy
CG Artist: Sergei Divid
3D Animation: Kirill Makukha, Maxim Makukha
PR: Jessica Hartley
Script Supervisor: Tim Eight
BTS: Oleg Kolsky
Clean Up: Dmitry Talin
Title Designer: Andrey Olshevsky
Special Thanks:
Roman Kovyazin, Alexandra Bakhmetyeva, Anton Kuznetsov, Yana Gannick, Vladimir Kravchenko, Dmitry Kolezev, Natalja Lea
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