Arquivo

A man decides to remain in hiding in the hope that the problems in his existence will be resolved, that history will say “Enough!” to tragedy, and that society will not engender new horrors. At the start of the 21st century, the theme concerning the defenseless and frail nature of a human being - closest to the heart of the film maker - appears more up-to-date than ever before. In his way, Sokúrov seems to be saying to us that civilization, science, technique, and culture, may come to grief at any moment in time, sweeping along with them all of the narcissistic pride in man. The film is an anthology of the most important resources that were later to be developed by the film maker, such as documental scenes together with distorted images, dissonant editing, opting for amateurs acting together with professionals. Painful Indifference scandalized the Russian government and, between 1983 and 1987, filming was, on several occasions, interrupted.