What is wrong with the Russian film

In February 2016 the Ministry of Culture receivedRussian Federation Government Resolution dated 27.2.2016 number 143 "On Approval of Rules of issue, refusal to issue and revoke certificates for rolling the film and the Rules of the State Register film " from the government the right to regulate movie release schedule in the rental. The new rules stated that the Ministry of Culture can refuse to issue a certificate of rolling (document necessary for the release of the film in cinemas), if on that date other equivalent claims picture.

That is, when one day falls just two cartoon or action movie, the Ministry of Culture has the right to independently decide which of them to give preference to, and first to introduce the viewer more quality cinema. But the system worked differently: the green light to increasingly give patriotic films shot in Russia, even when it is detrimental to distributors and viewers.

The most high profile scandals around the Ministry of Culture of the decision to start in 2018. Layfhaker remembers them and understands why the measure to develop the taste of the viewer, harms and narrows our view.

Culture against "insulting film"

In January 2018 the media talked a lot about censorship. Then the Ministry of Culture withdrew the license from rolling comedy "Death to Stalin", which appeared independent distributors company "Volga".

Withdrawal of licenses caused a wide public resonance, because the film banned just two days before its release in rentMinistry of Culture withdrew rolling certificate from the movie "The death of Stalin". According to official statements, in the painting foundComment head of Ministry of Culture of Russia Vladimir Medina in connection with the withdrawal of the rolling certificate for the film "Death to Stalin" "Insulting mockery of all the Soviet past."

"Stalin's death" is really ambiguous, but previously the Ministry of Culture has already conducted an inspection and found noMedina about a possible ban, "Stalin's Death": we have freedom of speech no violations. In addition, parallel to those of the Russian sales without any problems did the original cartoon "The death of Stalin," on which the film is based. So it was not just insulting people's feelings. Moreover, this situation was not the first for the Russian film.

"Upward movement" against the "Paddington"

It all started earlier - with the release of the sports drama "Move up", created with the support of "Cinema Fund" and the TV channel "Russia-1". Picture provided unparalleled support and information sessions given by almost all the New Year's rental.

«Upward movement"Appeared in theaters December 28, 2017, and in fact remained the only major release for all the New Year holidays. Without competition, the picture has collected"Move up": box office, the movie more than 1.5 billion rubles.

But the main thing happened later. Ministry of Culture has decided to further increase revenues "upward movement" and at the same time support"Paddington - 2" was not given to compete with the Russian cinema domestic film "Skif", which came out on January 18. This took away from the same day release of "Paddington - 2", as the story has attracted the audience bear much more.

As a result, the day before the start of hire all the same company "Volga", produced by "Paddington" in Russia, without any clear explanation was given a certificate on February 1. At first glance, there is nothing wrong: people do not care, when to see the continuation of a favorite movie. But the rental system is much more complicated. Release dates picked for a few months or even a year, so the picture is not competing with each other and allow cinemas to earn and distributors to pay the costs.

Shift "Paddington" meant that the releases scheduled for February 1, will move too. And if the Western paintings kept more competition, the Russian film "Selfies" Konstantin Khabensky probably I would have failed: he went right between sverhozhidaemogo "The Maze Runner" and "50 shades freedom. " A February 14 launched another Russian film "Ice", so that "Selfies" just is not perpetuated.

Saved only loud reaction of the media. After the hype "Paddington - 2" came just two days after the scheduled date - 20 January. However, the wide publicity does not help everyone.

"Sobibor" against the "Avengers"

In spring 2018 the Ministry of Culture issued another initiative to support the Russian cinema: to cancel the display of all the western movies in theaters on May holidays. For this release the most anticipated crossover of the year "Avengers: Infinity War"I proposed to move from 3rd to May 11th.

Of course, the distributors said the wave of negativity: long weekends always bring big profits. ticket prices these days is higher and the halls are filled. As a result, we chose a compromise: all releases remained in their places, but on May 9 cinemas twisted only Russian films.

Officially, of course, we are talking about the spirit of patriotism in the Victory Day. But in fact the whole initiative was designed to support the box office film "Sobibor" createdMedina spoke about the work on the idea of ​​the film "Sobibor" based on the story of the Medina.

It's really possible to "Sobibor" slightly increase fees. But in general, according toSingle federal automated information system, information about films in cinemas Site UAIS, the experiment was a failure: the majority of the audience simply did not go to the movies. Charges cinemas on May 9 were lower than on weekdays, when they showed "Avengers». Refer to the reluctance of people to go to the movies in the Victory Day, too, did not work: in 2017, "Guardians of the Galaxy - 2" 9 May collected more than the entire Russian hire the same day in 2018.

The initiative has brought losses cinemas and inconvenience to spectators. Gathering the Russian paintings, though increased, but not exactly at times.

"Sadko" against "rasprekrasno Prince"

May 24 at the box office had to start just two cartoon: Russia's "Sadko" and the US-Canadian "rasprekrasno Prince". But the decisionCartoon "rasprekrasno Prince" will not get rolling license on May 24 The Ministry of Culture moved to the second end of June.

From a legal perspective, everything here is true. Application for "Sadko" filed before, and the Ministry had the right to dissolve two equivalent release. But in this situation, there are a few subtleties.

Firstly, I have to say that the distributors' rasprekrasno prince "should be performed again unfortunate" Volga ". Secondly, the release is not moved for a week or two, but in the middle of summer, when most children already are leaving on vacation. And this is the main target audience of the cartoons.

Well, in the third, it suffices to compare quality animation. Not the brightest and most expensive "rasprekrasno Prince" seems much more modern domestic "Sadko": here seemed intentionally avoid fair competition.

"Crimean bridge" against the "Hunter Killer"

November 1 at the box office was to be launched thriller "Hunter Killer" - the story of how the US submarine rescue the Russian president. However, the day of hire published a statement"Hunter Killer" does not get rolling licenseThat the Ministry of Culture has not issued a certificate of the film rolling.

Formally, the cause of failure was theThe Ministry of Culture explained the situation with family movie "Hunter Killer" "Inadequate quality" copies, which sent the company. But the agency must otsmatrivat movies in advance, as the coordination of documents takes about two weeks. Why it was announced on the day of hire, the Ministry of Culture did not explain.

In any case, the main release of November 1 remained "Bohemian Rhapsody." But at the same time it came out just five Russian films, including "The Crimean bridge. Made with love". Start at the box patriotic paintings at the same time, "Hunter Killer" is likely to embarrass officials. Therefore, the release of blockbuster postponed for a week.

However, the "Crimean bridge" is not much help. Despite the high age rating (18+), "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the first weekend collected about eight times more.

"A police officer with the ruble" against "Spider-Man"

Special mention deserve and New Year holidays. December 13, 2018 in the cinema came out just four of the top film, "Aquaman", "Bumblebee", "The Grinch" and "Spider-Man: Across the Universe."

It would seem that happiness? Not really. The first hit "Spider-Man." Cartoon with innovative animation lost its audience: parents with children chose the New Year "Grinch", a comic book fans - "Aquaman." As a result, in just a week, the number of sessions rolled "Spider-Man" were cut, and soon all cleaned it. Following him, "Bumblebee" has collected less than it could if it came not to the rigid competition.

This "crush" the distributors usually try to avoid. Masthead movie brings the greatest profit, and these releases are spreading at least a week. Then each of them collects excellent box office and viewers have the opportunity to watch the new action in turn.

But this was not the initiative and not the fault of the distributors. Here, just look at the releasesMain kinorelizy Russia on 20 and 27 December: "The policeman with the ruble," the seventh part of "Christmas trees" and the ninth of the cartoon "Three heroes". Them and gave almost all theaters in the New Year's holidays.

Of course, the "Aquaman" and "Grinch" due to the popularity of more Used at the box office, but still the majority of cinemas showing only Russian comedy. As a result, despite the unprecedented number of blockbusters during the holiday season movie attendance was quite low: the audience was just nothing to see.

"Hurvínek" against the "Royal Corgi"

Another attempt to artificially clear rentals to enhance the Russian cartoon charges brought long-simmering revolt by the Association of Theater Owners. The thing is that the Ministry of Culture refused to issue a certificate rolling Belgian animated film "Royal Corgi", whose release was scheduled for March 7, 2019.

On the same day in the rental is due out domestic cartoon "Hurvínek. Magic game. " Therefore, the Ministry of Culture has proposed to move the "Royal Corgi" at the end of March or April. This means that the Belgian cartoon miss the spring school holidays - the peak of admissions of children. The Association has estimated losses from this reshuffle is about 100 million rubles.

As a result of the association of theater owners, as well as some cinema chains are not included in it, put forwardCinemas refuse Russian cartoon of the Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture ultimatum: if it does not agree hire "Royal Corgi", almost all of the major networks will refuse to show "Hurvínek". But the Ministry of Culture has not changedDistributors tapes "Royal Corgi" and "Hurvínek. Magic game "have not agreed about the show decision. As a result of the Belgian cartoon moved, and many cinemas excluded from the schedule the Russian premiere.

Age rating against young viewers

In addition to the transfer date, there is another method of impact on the rental - the alignment of the age rating. It would seem that the idea useful and operates almost all over the world. Especially that serious restrictions apply only to "18+" films - were not allowed there children. The rest of the rankings are advisory in nature.

Yet the film "16+" children can walk only with the parents, which greatly affects the attendance. In theory, it also helps protect from harmful content. But in reality, many Western films artificially inflate ratings Ministry of Culture dared children from foreign moviesAnd the Russian release, conversely, underestimate. Sometimes it looks bizarre.

You can even try to advance guessWhat the age limit for the Ministry of Culture has identified a particular release.

"Sobibor" - a film about the Nazi camp, which show torture, naked prisoners and burning the bodies. Age rating - 12+.

"Beauty and the Beast" - a game remake of the classic Disney fairy tales. Age rating - 16+. In the nature of one of the characters we saw a hint of homosexuality.

"Indestructible" - a film about the tank battle during the Second World War. Blood, dead, burning people, cruelty. Age rating - 12+.

"Power Rangers" - Superhero fiction about five high school girl saving the world in bright costumes. Age rating - 18+. Here again we saw hints of homosexual relationships.

On top of baby anime "student monster" about parenting difficult teenager also received a 16+ rating in the box, although there is not none at all provocative themes. Apparently, it happened on a wave of hype about the dangers anime.

Why does the viewer suffers

It may seem that all these restrictions and rearrangement create problems only to distributors or cinemas. But first and foremost is always simple spectators suffer, in fact they are deprived of the opportunity to watch good movies at a convenient time.

First, such regulation turns into a tool of censorship. For example, "Stalin's Death" - an ambiguous film that probably would have failed in the Russian box office. But we never know: the Ministry of Culture banned the viewers choose to watch it or not.

Secondly, the prohibition of pictures like the same "Stalin's death" will lead to the fact that distributors will be careful to buy any other unconventional and satirical films. So Russian viewers could lose a huge cultural layer from trash comedies like "Man - Swiss army knife" to dramas in the style of "Call me your name."

Thirdly, going to the movies for the holidays are increasingly becoming questionable undertaking: in these days at the box office are only the "Christmas Tree" and "A policeman with Ruble"Without any alternative.

Cinemas and distributors bear huge losses. The more there are, the less comfortable will each going to the movies: in the halls will be less likely to change lamps and refresh the screen, some theaters are generally closed. And distributors to have to make up for the lost money. For example, raising the price of top movies.

Finally, this approach is very harmful to the quality of the Russian cinema which tries to support Ministry of Culture.

Lack of fair competition allows collect cash even mediocre films: The authors did not begin to think about how to please the audience, and how to get the approval from the top.

The result - a faceless Russian cinema, and an even greater number of prejudices surrounding it. Cleaning of rental and age limits are only slightly increase fees featured movies. Indeed, the majority of people go to the movies on a particular prime minister and upset, not seeing it. We lose not just a movie, and the possibility of their choosing.