"Citadel" Mikhalkova went to Oscar

The film "Citadel" by Nikita Mikhalkov went to Oscar, despite the protest of the head of the Russian Oscar Committee, director Vladimir Menshov. This was reported by RIA Novosti by the head of the Russian National Academy Vladimir Naumov. "The issue of presenting the film for the Academy Award was resolved, since the majority voted for Mikhalkov’s picture," Naumov said. “Documents are already executed and ready, and the picture is sent to the USA to the US film Academy,” he added.

"As for Menshov, his actions are unlawful, he did not fulfill his duties to fix the vote and inform the academy about the results," Naumov said. According to him, "Menshov had the right to write his point of view separately and attach to the voting results."

Vladimir Menshov refused to sign the protocol of the qualifying commission, which made the decision to nominate from Russia “Citadel” by Nikita Mikhalkov to the Awards of the American Film Academy in the “Best Foreign Language Film” nomination.

“I refused to sign the protocol, because I think this decision is unfair, since the rolling fate of the picture and reviews of critics do not prove its solidity,” Menshov explained.

He emphasized that "this year there were many worthy paintings" that could present Russia for the Award of the American Film Academy. Along with Mikhalkov’s tape, members of the Russian Oscar Committee discussed Elena Andrei Zvyagintsev, who received a special jury prize of the “Special View” program of the 64th International Cannes Film Festival, and the Golden Lion Laureate of the 68th Venice Film Festival-the film “Faust” by Alexander Sokurov. In addition, the committee examined two more films-“Once upon a time, there was one woman” Andrei Smirnov and “Shapito show” by Sergey Loban.

The Citadel, which was released on May 5, failed at the box office, collecting $ 1.3 million in the first two weeks. In total, the film raised about 1.5 million dollars in the Russian box office, while the film budget amounted to $ 34 million. The picture also received low critics ratings.

The premiere of the film was preceded by a loud scandal. The publication of the trailer and the posting of the film on the Internet caused an ambiguous user reaction. In particular, on the blog of the popular designer Artemy Lebedev, a competition of the so-called "photojab"-user parodies at the post-and-2-tire-2 "was held. Bloggers made changes to the name of the film, put in place Mikhalkov Nikolai Baskov, Nikita Dzhigurdu, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oleg Mitvol, Mikhail Saakashvili and even Adolf Hitler.

“Dad is deeply indignant at what is happening around the not yet released picture,” said the director of the director Nadezhda Mikhalkova, who played in the film with his father. “I don’t think that he will tolerate this, he will deal with these“ wits ”in court.