Vitaly Mansky
Gorbachev. Heaven
Part of
Gorbachev. Heaven

Gorbachev. Heaven

Vitaly Mansky

2020
100 min.
Czechia
Russian
Subtitles: Catalan, Spanish and English

90-year-old Mikhail Gorbachev is visited by filmmaker Vitaly Mansky. Manksy asks sharp questions and Gorbachev answers with jokes, poetry, and folk songs.

Datasheet

Show
Direction
Vitaly Mansky
Sound
Anrijs Krenbergs
Distribution
Deckert Distribution
Production
Natalia Manskaia (Vertov)
Co-production
Vit Klusak (Hypermarket Film), Filip Remunda (Hypermarket Film)
Script
Alexander Gelman, Vitaly Mansky
Editing
Yevgeny Rybalko
Music
Kārlis Auzāns
Synopsis

Mikhail Gorbachev, aged 90 and a former leader of the USSR, welcomes the visit of filmmaker Vitaly Mansky to his home on the outskirts of Moscow. The camera captures a fascinating dialogue in which Gorbachev looks back and examines his political career without giving it too much importance. However, the history of the 20th century and the turn of the millennium cannot be understood without Gorbachev. Mansky touches on delicate issues, but Gorbachev eludes questions with eloquent silences. The Russian politician’s true essence emerges when he talks about the unconditional love for his late wife Raisa.

The conversation revolves around the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet empire and Putin's current Russia. Political reflections take place in a homely atmosphere, around a table full of sweets and vodka. Gorbachev's delicate health does not prevent him from making jokes, reciting poetry and getting excited when singing old folk songs. Award for Best Directing at IDFA 2020.

About the direction
Vitaly Mansky

Vitaly Mansky

Director and producer

Vitaly Mansky. In 1982 Vitaly Mansky began his studies at the All-Russian State Institute of Cinemat...

DocsBarcelona Trajectory

2021
DocsBarcelona Festival · Sessió especial
Edició 2021

Awards and festivals

Sofia IFF
Bulgaria, 2021
Budapest IDF
Hungary, 2021
Tallinn Black Nights
Estonia, 2020
IDFA Documentary Film Festival
Netherlands, 2020
Vitaly Mansky
Gorbachev. Heaven
Watch the trailer
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Reviews

A film that evokes the isolation and decline faced by a man who was once all-important, but decided to step, irreversibly, outside history.

— Screendaily

A poetic portrait of a poignant political afterlife.

— Stephen Dalton · Hollywood Reporter

It's more a poetic character study than exacting political profile.

— Guy Lodge · Variety
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