Beshencevo Current History is a project to explore through the drama of short stories, created with the Romani and not Romani population of villagers of Beshencevo, the construction of their lives as they have continued over a long period of time both under Soviet rule and in the current Russian Federation era. This is presented as a two channel 30 minute video work both as an art gallery and in a film broadcast context.
Through re-enacting familiar and routine aspects of their lives, as well as vital and life changing dramas, both the Romani and Gaje population of the village were given the power of the camera to explore a series of layered situations: relationships and distance of the village to the city; exchange between Romani and Gaje both in the way village family lives continue and in the hierarchies which rule routines and events; the past and present in the village through the villagers relationship to the city factories, markets, post office etc: and lastly Romani closeness to nature and its rule in family life through closeness to animals, crops and family cycles.
Edouard Chiline
Edouard Chiline comes from the Romani community of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. He studied theatre history and film management in the Moscow Art School (MXAT). His main work so far has been on issues of film, culture and media. He is the creator and publisher of Rombiblio, the biggest online source of Romani literature.
Hannah Collins
Artist, photographer and filmmaker Hannah Collins makes work on the collective experiences of memory, history and the everyday. She has had international exhibitions and her work is in public and private collections.