Michael Gluzman and Brad Tucker both co-directed this film as well as a terrific follow-up picture in 2008, ALL THAT IS HUMAN. While both are very young and inexperienced in film making, I am blown away at the quality of both these productions. For student films, they are unbelievable! FANYA KAPLAN is an interesting little film about a little-known figure from history who tried to assassinate Lenin after the Communist revolution "went sour" and the party began limiting free speech and basic human rights. Although I teach history, my knowledge of the event was at best sketchy, so I enjoyed finding out more about this abortive attempt on Lenin's life. Ironically, considering how many of Kaplan's friends were executed and how Lenin's successor, Stalin, was so blood-thirsty and demented, the incident probably did much more harm than good.
What I loved about the film is how the film makers made the movie in Russian and the trouble they went to in oder to get that right. Also, for the money spent, it was a very professional and I am amazed that these young people have done a great job both times they worked together. Great stuff.
