Orthodox activists demand to ban screening "Matilda" in Stavropol Territory
Members of the "Society for the Development of Russian Historical Education 'Two-Headed Eagle'" have appealed to the authorities of the Stavropol Territory with a request to cancel the screening of the film "Matilda". They suggest that the picture defames the image of the Orthodox saint.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a number of the Russian regions requested to be excluded from a rental certificate for the screening of the film "Matilda" directed by Alexei Uchitel, since it could "insult the believers' feelings." The Ministry for Culture of the Russian Federation suggested that the regions should decide by themselves on the ban of the film and on August 10, it issued a rental certificate for the screening of the film "Matilda" across Russia.
The film "Matilda" described a story about the fate of ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya, with whom future Russian emperor Nicholas II was in love. Critics of the film believe that the image created in "Matilda" does not correspond to the image of Emperor Nicholas II canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Stavropol branch of the public organization "Society for the Development of Russian Historical Education 'Two-Headed Eagle'", which includes historians, political analysts, religious figures, as well as members of public organizations and Cossack community, has appealed to the Governor, members of the government and the Duma of the Stavropol Territory with a request to cancel the screening of the film "Matilda" in the region, reported the press service for the Orthodox youth movement "Soboryane".
According to Ivan Belashov, the leader of the Stavropol branch of the public organization, Candidate of Political Sciences, the film "Matilda" "defames the personality of the Russian emperor by turning conjectures, rumours and historical gossip into irrefutable facts."
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.