Shultes

Bakur Bakuradze, one of the most promising young Russian film makers, is preoccupied with the subject of 'a small man in a contemporary metropolis'. After his short film Moscow (made with D. Mamulia), the story of Tajik guest workers struggling to survive in the Russian capital, comes Shultes - an existential drama whose stylistic minimalism conceals a powerful philosophical message.
Lesha Shultes (Gela Chitava worked for the production team as a driver and was cast in the lead role after the shooting had already begun) seems to lead a very ordinary life in a very ordinary Moscow district. He watches TV a lot, cares for his elderly mother and goes jogging in the park. He is a professional pickpocket, and he is good at what he does. The only extraordinary thing about Shultes is that he carries a little notebook with him and notes down everything - names, facts, date. There’s something strangely disturbing about this quiet man, and the director skillfully keeps his protagonist’s secret until the final episodes…
In spite of contextual parallels to Bresson’s Pickpocket, Shultes has a very contemporary feel to it. Bakuradze’s competent directing creates a sharp and universally recognizable image of an amnesiac urban creature. Yet, this drama has a strong Russian flavour to it. (LC)