北风 (2021)

The matriarchal clan led by gorgeous Margarita (Renata Litvinova) enters a turbulent period when her son loses his beloved fiancée. Using the structure of a repetitive ritual, the action spans years but takes place mostly during the annual gatherings of Margarita’s extraordinary family in their mansion on New Year’s Eve. Margarita believes in the magical 13th hour that can break the eternal circle of repetition, defeat death and bring her much-awaited love. The North Wind is an artistic tour de force by cult actress, scriptwriter and filmmaker Renata Litvinova. A romantic, baroque and decadent Gothic fairy-tale, it is full of fantastic characters, peculiar objects and exuberant clothes, as well as myriad oddities and surprises. Echoing legendary makers of Russian cinematic extravaganza Kira Muratova and Rustam Khamdamov, Litvinova creates a unique universe in which the mind-blowing set and visual design serves as an entrance to a penetrating reflection on love and (female) fate.