Theatre on Film Series

COMING SOON: Searching for Akhmatova – A Journey through Memory & 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.

Searching for Akhmatova is a documentary-drama exploring the poet’s early life, artistic voice, and defiance under political oppression, blending reenactments, archival material, and expert insight to offer an educational and emotionally resonant portrait of one of the most powerful literary figures of the 20th century.

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.