A rock ‘n’ roll biopic that will blow your mind: 3 good reasons to see Limonov, Ballad at the cinema

There are some fairly conventional biographies and there are others that are more explosive. Limonov, the ballad is more in the second category. It must be said that the figure revealed in Kirill Serebrennikov’s new film has enough of a rock ‘n’ roll life to take us on a journey in all directions.

After Leto, Petrov Fever and Tchaikovsky’s Wife, the Russian filmmaker turned his attention to portraying the life of Eduard Limonov, a Franco-Russian writer and political dissident, founder of the National Bolshevik Party.

A historical biopic like no other

Revolutionary activist, dandy, thug, butler or homeless man, he was at once an angry and militant poet, a political agitator and a novelist of his own greatness. Eduard Limonov’s life as a sulfur trail is a walk through the noisy streets of Moscow and the skyscrapers of New York, from the alleys of Paris in the second half of the 20th century to the heart of Siberia.

Limonov, Ballad is a biographical film adapted from the novel Limonov by French writer and director Emmanuel Carrère, published in 2011 and winner of the Renaudot prize.

A biography masquerading as an in-depth journalistic investigation, this particular work, which highlights the deep socio-political upheavals of the second half of the 20th century during Limonov’s lifetime, attracted Kirill Serebrennikov, who adapted it sharply.

The Russian director’s film is not a comforting ballad, but it immerses us in the psyche of this controversial and contradictory figure, revealing all the complexity of his struggles and works with numerous twists and heartbreaking personal life scenes that constantly question this personality.

Impressive performance by Ben Whishaw

To play Eduard Limonov, Kirill Serebrennikov turned to British actor Ben Whishaw, known for playing the assassin Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in Perfume, Q in the James Bond saga, but also for voicing Paddington Bear.

Her versatility and acting skills convinced the Russian director to entrust her with Eduard Limonov’s eccentric score to striking and impressive effect. If English was the logical choice for an international project, Ben Whishaw was the obvious choice, as his transformation was transcendent, according to the filmmaker:

“Ben exceeded all my expectations. He is a really great artist. Ben in life is the complete opposite of what Limonov was. He is a good, kind, quiet British guy… In front of the camera he transforms into a very very Russian Limonov!

There is something mysterious about this radical transformation, even though, of course, there was a lot of preparation. Ben devoured a significant amount of archival footage and regurgitated.

Many people on the set knew the real Limonov. These technicians were mostly the first viewers of the film, and they were absolutely convinced: they had no doubt that Limonov was among us.”

Electric and theatrical staging

Limonov, the ballad is also worth its staging and very rich aesthetics. First of all, due to the quality of the historical reconstruction of the USSR of the 60s, 70s and 90s, as well as New York of the 70s, thanks to the extensive and meticulous research of essential archival work and the creation of sets and costumes.

“The general style of the film is that of comics or collage”Kirill Serebrennikov explains in the film’s press kit. “I wanted to use all formats: a square black and white image for the Soviet Union, then a wide, color format for the United States…

I’m passionate about photography and I’ve pulled a lot from the archives. The title also indicates this, this film is a “ballad”, a cinema-ballad, which borrows rhythm, alliteration, overlap of time, people from poetry…”

With rock ‘n’ roll music, Limonov, the ballad amazes with its reconstructed scenes that we pass from one side to the other, as lively and explosive as its main character in the performance. And this organic and rhythmic experience should be experienced in a dark room.

Kirill Serebrenikov’s film “Limonov, Ballad” is in theaters.