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After being banned in its home country, the Russian sci-f horror film Empire V is preparing to debut to the rest of the world at Montreal’s Fantasia Festival in July, revealing its first trailer, so audiences can prepare for a controversial story:
Based on the novel of the same name written by famous author Viktor Pelevin and published in 2005, Empire V is described as a “social parody of modern Russian society being controlled by vampires,” and it’s meant to work as a satire of life in the cold country, which is the main reason why it was banned in the midst of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Sony had set it up for 1,800 screens in Russia, but the government ended up staunchly refusing the distribution permit.
Here’s the official synopsis (via Deadline):
“In the film, a 19-year-old Moscow nobody is turned into a vampire, and thereby becomes part of an elite and powerful echelon of society who have controlled humanity since time immemorial. Empire V is an astounding visual feast, featuring innovative and propulsive visual effects sequences that enhance and elevate its timely social commentary.”
Directed and written by Victor Ginzburg, Empire V is produced by Heartland Films and Kvadrat Film Company, and stars famous Russian rapper Oxxxymiron, Pavel Tabakov, Taya Radchenko, and Vera Alentova.
You can check out the new trailer below.
Empire V Can Now Join a Controversial List
It is not a surprise that places like Russia have very different standards than Western countries when it comes to approving what can and cannot be seen in theaters in their territory. Obviously, the case of Empire V is a particular one because it is a film produced in that same country, but many famous movies have gone through the same situation.
Throughout history, many films from Hollywood and other industries with a global reach have also been banned in the country, with some cases being highly recognized. The Death of Stalin is one of them, and with that title, it’s pretty self-explanatory why it was not available in Russia. The film was directed by the great Armando Iannucci (Veep, The Thick of It), with Jason Isaacs and Steve Buscemi as the main stars, presenting a comedic satire around the titular character’s death and the behind-the-scenes scheming of different politicians.
Another famous satire, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, also didn’t get a chance on the other side of the world. The Interview centers on a famous television host and a journalist who land a coveted interview with a controversial North Korean government figure, Kim Jong-Un.
Child 44 is another popular case. Directed by Daniel Epinosa, the movie starred Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman and Noomi Rapace, and followed the story of a Soviet Agent who finds an unexpected connection between a series of murders and a political leader.
The last one may not come as a surprise, since Russia has not been the only country to ban this famous film. Borat from 2006 is perhaps one of the best examples of a satirical movie, but Sasha Baron Cohen’s great creation had to deal with quite a few bans for its jokes and themes.
Empire V is set to be extremely different from these films, with much darker and creepier visuals, but it does share one defining point – satire and social commentary are dangerous to tyrants.
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