Dmitri Shostakovich: Sonata for Viola
This tragic requiem for the composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), SONATA FOR VIOLA is chronicled through personal documents and performances, as well as archival footage of daily life in the Soviet Union. After much critical acclaim early in his career, Shostakovich fell into political and public disgrace under Stalin. He was eventually rehabilitated in 1958, and officially admitted to the pantheon of Soviet artists. A passionate musician, he managed to create a highly memorable body of works, despite his country's political upheavals and his opposition to the ideology of power.  Though begun by respected documentarian Semyon Aranovich, SONATA FOR VIOLA was shaped and edited by legendary director Alexander  Sokurov (RUSSIAN ARK) who gave the film its emotional mood. Sokurov clashed with Soviet authorities over his interpretation of the material, which resulted in the film being banned immediately upon completion.