The Man Who Surprised Everyone
Original title: Chelovek, Kotoryi Udivil Vsekh
World premiere: Venice Film Festival (Orizzonti)
Egor (Evgeniy Tsyganov), a forest ranger in Siberia, finds out that he has terminal cancer. He accepts his prognosis and prepares for the inevitable. His wife (Natalia Kudryashova), who is expecting another child, begs him to visit a shaman who tells him a Russian folktale about a creature that fooled fate by disguising itself. Inspired by the story, Egor decides to disguise himself as a woman. Such a move in a Siberian village is beyond the comprehension of the locals, especially his wife and son, who are mortified. Does he hope to fool death? Will being ostracised help him accept death, or will he prevail? The more people react to him, the more determined he becomes.
Crew
Written and directed by: Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova
Producer: Ekaterina Filippova
Co-producers: Katrin Kissa, Alexander Rodnyansky, Guillaume de Seille
Cinematographer: Mart Taniel
Production designer: Sergey Avstrievskikh
Costume designer: Anna Bartuli
Editor: Vadim Krasnitsky
Sound designers: Vladimir Prjamov, Aleksandr Fedenev
Poster Designer: Margus Tamm
World Sales: Pluto Film
US distribution: Synergetic Distribution
Cast
Evgeniy Tsyganov, Natalya Kudryashova, Yuriy Kuznetsov, Pavel Maykov, Aleksey Filimonov, Yelena Voronchikhina
Production companies
Pan-Atlantic Studio (RU)
Non-Stop Production (RU)
Homeless Bob Production (EE)
Arizona Production (FR)
Festivals
Venice Film Festival. Orizzonti Section. Venice, Italy
Busan International Film Festival. Busan, South-Korea
Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival. Pingyao, China
PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Tallinn, Estonia
Tromsø International Film Festival. Tromsø, Norway
International Film Festival Rotterdam. Rotterdam, Netherlands
Guadalajara International Film Festival. Guadalajara, Mexico
Munich Film Festival. Munich, Germany
Göteborg Film Festival. Göteborg, Sweden
Raindance Film Festival. London, UK
Transilvania International Film Festival. Transilvania, Romania
Crossing Europe Film Festival. Linz, Austria
Luxembourg City Film Festival. Luxembourg
Selected awards and nominations
Venice Film Festival. Orizzonti Best actress (Natalya Kudryashova); Nominated for Orizzonti Best Feature Film; Nominated for Queer Lion Award
Russian Guild of Film Critics Awards. Best Actor (Evgeniy Tsyganov); Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Natalya Kudryashova); Nominated for Best Screenplay (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova)
Estonian Cultural Endowment Awards. Best Cinematographer (Mart Taniel)
Nika Awards. Best Actor (Evgeniy Tsyganov); Best Supporting Actor (Yuriy Kuznetsov); Nominated for Best Actress (Natalya Kudryashova; Nominated for Best Director (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova); Nominated for Best Screenplay (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova); Nominated for Best Film (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova, Ekaterina Filippova)
Göteborg Film Festival. Nominated for Best Film
Raindance Film Festival. Best Performance (Evgeniy Tsyganov)
Fünf Seen Film Festival. Best Feature Film
Crossing Europe Film Festival. Best Feature Film
Zinegoak Bilbao International GLT Film Festival. Jury Prize for Best Film (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova); Outstanding Secondary Performance in a Feature Film (Natalya Kudryashova)
Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival. People’s Choice Award for Best Film (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova)
Tromsø International Film Festival. Nominated for Aurora Award
Guadalajara International Film Festival. Nominated for Best Feature Film
Munich Film Festival. Nominated for Best Film by an Emerging Director (Alexey Chupov, Natasha Merkulova)
