Theatre on Film Series

COMING SOON: A JOURNEY THROUGH MEMORY AND POETRY

Amid the rhythmic clatter of train wheels and the hushed echoes of a Europe left behind, the celebrated Russian poet Anna Akhmatova embarks on a poignant homeward journey. Having just received Italy’s prestigious Etna-Taormina Literary Prize in 1964, she returns to a homeland that both exalted and condemned her—a land steeped in reverence for her words yet shadowed by the ghosts of its past. But she is not alone. Through the veil of memory, she is accompanied by the spectral presence of her dearest friend, Valeria “Valya” Sreznevskaya, whose unseen companionship becomes her solace, her confessional, and her bridge to the past.

This currently untitled Documentary-Drama Theatre on Film production from Moscow Nights transcends mere biography; it is a profoundly intimate meditation on art, survival, and the unbreakable spirit of a poet who bore witness to an era’s anguish. Directed by Natasha O. Ramer, the film chronicles Akhmatova’s reflections on the defining years of her life—from the brilliance of the Silver Age to the devastation of war, the upheaval of revolution, and the suffocating grip of Stalin’s purges. Through searching, lyrical dialogues with Valya, the film unveils the soul of a woman who, in an age of silence, dared to speak for the silenced.

Shot in a raw, documentary-inspired style, the production offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this powerful theatrical work. From the first scribbles of the script to the impassioned rehearsals of Diana Shortes as Anna Akhmatova and Kathy Randels as Valya, audiences will witness the labor of transformation—how poetry becomes performance, and history takes shape on stage.

This film is more than a retelling; it is an act of artistic remembrance, a cinematic testament to the enduring force of women’s voices across generations. Through its stark, evocative storytelling and hauntingly beautiful visuals, it invites viewers into a world where literature, history, and art collide—where the past is never truly past, and poetry remains a defiant act of survival.