An Interview With Andrey Iskanov

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREY ISKANOV

01.10.2007

Andrey Iskanov is one of the most exciting independent horror filmmakers operating in the European arthouse/exploitation new-wave cycle. With films such as Nails and Visions of Suffering generating some genuine cult appeal, Andrey has developed a solid fan base, particularly online and in light of his films being released by major US cult distributor Unearthed Films. Andrey speaks to MJ Reviews about his upcoming film, a 4-hour World War II opus Philosophy of a Knife, and the trials and tribulations of filmmaking in his mother country, Russia.

First of all, thank you very much for the interview. We appreciate it and realise you're very busy with all the work with Philosophy of a Knife .

I finished work on Philosophy of a Knife about half-year back. Now I work on editing of the new film named The Tourist. It's fantastic film in traditions of Body Snatchers and They Live. For me the best rest is change of activity. I can not stay idle longer several days. After The Tourist I shall start to do something else. Philosophy of a Knife has taken away too many time from me and now I should make up for lost time.

You hail from Russia that is a nation where we, as native English-speaking nations, see very few films.What is the process to make and market a film in Russia?

How I do films in Russia? It is a theme for the whole book How to Make Something From Nothing. And I'm sure that if you, people of the Western world, have read it, you would not believe me. Each time it's like being sent to war, just to make a film.You would be at war for each shot of the film.When you start to make film in Russia, in those conditions in which I make it, it seems, that all universe rise against you. Everything that seems to you norm, is inadmissible luxury here. Russia is a certain antiworld where creation of films is the form of guerrilla military movement.

And is horror a well-received genre there?

If it was so, Russia probably would gush forth films of horrors! I can list all horror (much or less of the term) films made in Russia for last 40 years faster than you can spell Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But Nails was the first film in this genre for all last years. I already many times spoke that horror is not a popular genre in Russia. Dario Argento could not make here the film and was compelled to leave for other European country where he could work normally. And I could not make anything at a level, the big official cinema. Unique real films of horrors which can be made in Russia, can be made only for the own account and own efforts. Russia is still outside of the civilized film-world. Who knows how many years that Russia would learn to perceive films of horror just as spectators of other countries will leave. Communists, with the help of long-term isolation and cultivation, have deduced special genetic type of person which whose perception of the world in the cardinal image differs from people evolved outside of limits of the Russian system.

In 2003 you directed Nails. What got you into the movie-making business?

I waited a long time. Too long. About what I regret the only thing, that I have not made Nails, for example, in 1996. I hoped to interest somebody in my ideas and to find financing for my projects. Probably such happens in USA, England or other countries. I dont know. But now, from my own experience, I'm firmly convinced that in Russia such situation is impossible! If you have ideas and you want to embody them in a reality, do not wait for anybody! Anybody will not help you. Rise and do all. Its a real pity, that I cant turn back time. Too much time and force was spent for empty expectations.

You multi-tasked fairly broadly with Nails, and you starred in, produced, composed the music for, wrote and edited the film, as well as working on visual and make-up effects. How long did the film take to be made, from its beginnings on paper to its release with Unearthed Films and what was your goal with it?

We have photographed and have edited Nails for some days. It's my personal record, since then I never did films so quickly. In total, from paper until the completed film, it has probably occupied one month or hardly more. But three years passed before Unearthed Films have released the film on DVD. However, Nails was released in Russia on VHS in the same 2003. Today in Nails I would make it differently. Its sure, that it is much better. If in your country somebody will wish to release my film, I am ready to make remastering film in such case. It's a little to improve the image and a sound, a little to change editing.

You then directed Visions of Suffering, which was a similarly surreal and violent film. Was it a different experience on set to Nails and your previous films?

I have made Visions of Suffering in the same 2003 as Nails. Also there were no distinctions in comparison with its creation and creation of my previous films. The film was based on a dreadful dream and consequently few could estimate its primary idea. Unless others shared my nightmares? My experience with Visions of Suffering has convinced me that surrealism is not liked by modern spectators, unfortunately. Meanwhile I do not have any desire to make something in similar mood again. Today, strange fairy tales are very badly sold. Ultraviolent modern histories are necessary for spectators. Everyone ask me only how how much blood, gore and violence is in my new film, and anybody yet has not asked me about what there will be this film and what actors participate.

Tell us a little bit about Philosophy of a Knife.

Very personal film for me for which creation I have spent four years of my life. I was an obsessive idea to tell to people the truth about Unit 731 [a Japanese torture/experiment camp in World War II]. I knew that I had more than creative opportunities to make it than anybody, then or now. Nobody to dare to make such film today even if will have millions of dollars. You never will see anything similar of Hollywood or anyone large film producer. Anybody in senses will not enclose the money in four hour film devoted to death and cruelty. The Philosophy of a Knife becomes the new Testament of modern violent cinema. But it not simply violent and fucking gore film. Not at all! Do not deceive itself. Its film with idea, film research. Film the message, if you want.

There’s been some controversy with Philosophy, particularly with Unearthed’s treatment of various cuts. Can you elaborate on that and provide us with the latest information regarding this?

The shorter film is more easy to work to the distributor. Philosophy of a Knife is film in two separate parts, the general duration more than four hours.I did the film for release on DVD, therefore I did not see in its length of any problem. You can look the first part tonight and the second part in the evening of tomorrow. Or both parts for one evening, one by one. Business of your taste. Which that history film is devoted is too serious and too deep, that I would presume to reduce to myself it for the sake of profit the distributor. Probably, I'm the worst producer in the world because I create films that are very inconvenient for all. Both for distributors and for spectators. And the more problems, the worse for sales. But I for anything did not presume to not show myself to the spectator that considered for itself important in a history about Unit 731. Whether its possible to tell about whose that life and death for one and a half hour? Probably it's possible. But I do not want to hasten and tell a history on running. Extinguish light, sit, turn on DVD player and watch. You will have enough time what to learn all that I wanted to tell to you about a sad history of Unit 731. Whether they wanted to cut film? Now another is important. Now to me promised, that film will not be reduced.

How does Philosophy compare visually and stylistically with your other films?

Approximately as well as if to compare Elephant Man produced by Mel Brooks to other films which were produced by him. For example with Spaceballs or The Producers, etc. Invented film of horrors is one thing, a drama on the basis of horrible events it absolutely another. Certainly in film there is what that my trademarks, but its difficult for me to speak about it, I seldom pay to this attention. As a rule, I do not like my films at all. But Philosophy of a Knife is a rare case when I like it very much.

What do you hope to achieve as a director?

That my films would be remembered long after I am no more. It is the best guarantor of quality of any film. If a film is forgotten soon after its ending, it means that the child was born deadborn and its authors simply all for nothing have spent time and forces. I do not want to make through passage films, films which to me will not be interesting. Till now so it also was. And still I would like to have more opportunities for creation of films. Meanwhile they are very much limited.

You're becoming quite a force within the independent horror film genre, and a great deal of interest regarding you and your films has been generated across the Internet. How do you respond to this?

It is not reflected in any way in me personally. I live in Russia and if in the next apartment near tomine will live Vincent Price or Bela Lugosi, all here would spit on them. For example, if I am taken for creating advertising videos for a local advertising agency and I speak, that I the director of horror and surrealistic films, well known in the West, managers of agency are interested and whether in general I'm able to shoot and edit something? I live too far from those countries where these word shave any sense and value. Sometimes I read about myself in Internet. I'm glad when I read about myself something good. And turn sad, when I read about myself something bad. It's everything, that I could tell. Probably, if I lived somewhere in New York or Toronto, it would have the greater meaning. But unfortunately for all of us I live in Khabarovsk. You can find this city (by the way, its image is present on the largest monetary denomination of Russia in 5,000 roubles) on a map of the world, from three attempts? Well all right, let even from ten?

Are there any future projects on the horizon?

It is a lot of. Now I finish editing my new film The Tourist. And it will be then possible, Angel dust for example. And also one more new film with infernal violence. Without dependence that I think of violence, its sure, very much many will want more and more after will see Philosophy of a Knife. And by the way i have good plot. And not one, by the way.

Finally, Andrey, thank you very much for this interview. We really appreciate it and wish you the best of luck with Philosophy of a Knife and your future projects.

I was late with the answer a little. Here in Russia each new day creates to you all new and new problems from which it seems there is in general no rescue. For example, for one month vanishes Internet connection and nobody wishes to be engaged in it even if you always pay in time. Or something even worse. Anyway, many thanks to you for your patience. Good luck!