Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary ‘Imperium,’ assembled from archival footage of 1970s Soviet life, wins Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival

“Imperium,” a documentary by Sergei Loznitsa, won the best film award at the British Film Institute’s 70th London Film Festival.

“Imperium” consists of archival footage shot by Italian documentary filmmakers in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Loznitsa discovered the footage at the Audiovisual Archive of the Workers’ and Democratic Movement in Rome. The film opens with a parade on Red Square, then moves to other regions of the country to show everyday life and celebrations.

The jury said “Imperium” offers a fresh perspective on life in the Soviet Union before its collapse. “The film offers a broad view of life in a country with an extraordinarily diverse social and cultural landscape, many aspects of which have rarely appeared on-screen,” it said in a statement.

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