The War of Raya Sinitsina

NEW DOCS

This spirited portrait follows a Soviet World War II veteran, Raya Sinitsina, who survived the 872-day Siege of Leningrad, during which over a million civilians died from starvation and exposure. Six decades later, memories of the war have shifted from a focus on horror and atrocities to celebrations of victory. As head of her veterans’ club, and as more and more of her comrades pass away, Raya fights for their dignity even as she resists accepting any notion of victory in relation to war. Raya is quietly, cleverly, and persistently engaging; on her, the years somehow read more like 64, or even 17, the age she was when the siege began. Through the course of the film—which sparks with honesty, humor, and joy—a mutual fondness forms between Raya and Fima (as she calls director Efim Graboy) that serves as a tenderly sweet note in this rich vehicle of memory and life.  WFM

 

Filmmaker Q&A available

This film is only available to viewers in the United States

Director

Efim Graboy

Producers

Yahaly Gat, Efim Graboy

Editor

Efim Graboy

Cinematographers

Efim Graboy, Daniel Binsted

Original Title

Milchamta shel Raya Sinitsina

Release Year

2020

Festival Year

2021

Country

Israel

Run Time

89 minutes

Subtitled

Yes

Premiere

North American Premiere