Blood and two others by Alina Rudnitskaya

Dir. Alina Rudnitskaya. 2013, 59 mins. Digital projection. In Russian with English subtitles. Over the past decade, St. Petersburg–based Alina Rudnitskaya has emerged as one of the most talented and insightful chroniclers of life in contemporary Russia, focusing in particular on the struggles for identity and autonomy by women. In Blood, a tightly knit group of female nurses travel the northwest regions of the country collecting blood donations, serving the dual purpose of stocking the country’s blood banks and making nominal but desperately needed payments to unemployed donors. After long days in which they function as de facto social workers and therapists, in addition to performing their demanding medical duties with threadbare resources, they try to let loose with dance, drink, and dreams of love.

Preceded by Bitch Factory (Dir. Alina Rudnitskaya, 2009, 29 mins), a mini-masterpiece about young women enrolled in a class taught by a middle-age male guru seeking guidance on how to attract wealthy husbands.

And I Will Forget This Day (Dir. Alina Rudnitskaya, 2011, 25 mins.), a devastatingly restrained, formally spare glimpse at the diversity of women waiting their turn in an abortion clinic, a place that is coolly clinical and completely absent of supporting companions.

Tickets: $15 ($11 seniors and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / free for children under 3 and Museum members at the Film Lover and Kids Premium levels and above). Order tickets online. (Members may contact [email protected] with questions regarding online reservations.)

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