Russia’s ‘Mermaid’ woos Oscar

Feature entered into foriegn-language race

Variety.com
September 25, 2008

By TOM BIRCHENOUGH

MOSCOW — Russia’s foreign language Oscar nomination is Anna Melikyan’s
sophomore feature "The Mermaid."

Pic was produced by Central Partnership and Melikyan’s Magnum Film shingle.

"The Mermaid" world preemed at Sundance, where Melikyan received the
World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award, and then went on to receive the
Fipresci critics’ Prize at Berlin.

Central Partnership topper Ruben Dishdishyan said: "We truly believe
that ‘The Mermaid’ deserves to be one of those motion pictures that
determine the perception of the Russian cinema abroad."

Released in Russia and surrounding territories in November on 212
prints, it brought in a respectable — for an arthouse crossover movie
— $1.3 million at the box office.

The story revolves around the big city experiences of a girl who makes
it to Moscow after growing up on Russia’s Black Sea coast. "The Mermaid"
is similar in style to Melikyan’s debut "MARS," which sold respectably
around the world.

Read the full article at:
ml