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Love Among the Cooling Towers

He’s young and scruffy, with puppy dog eyes:

Atomic_Ivan_1

She’s fresh and vivacious, who likes to – do – something out front of the facility (must be a windy day):

Atomic_Ivan_2

When they meet, can love be far behind?

Atomic_Ivan_8

Vodka and cooling towers? Will there be a second date?

World Nuclear News has the story of a new Russian film called Atomic Ivan (not the young fellow – his name is Vanya):

Snigirev Dobrygin and Julie Gregory take the starring roles under direction from Vasily Barkhatov, who uses family and nuclear culture to explore themes of commitment, stability and continuity between generations. Rosatom said that nuclear work is portrayed as prestigious and exciting, as complicated and intricate as personal relationships, and coming with extensive training and great responsibility.

That sounds – awful – like something the old Soviet Union would produce to extol agricultural achievements. There certainly are interesting pictures that could be made using the nuclear industry as a background, but the idea of offering a parallel between young love and an industrial setting suggests that both will come out diminished. Of course, I haven’t seen the movie – it could be a masterpiece.

A Rosatom presentation listed some of its goals in this unique public communication project: projecting an image of modern young scientists; promoting the idea of continuity of skills and culture between generations of nuclear workers; illustrating the true nature of the nuclear industry; and attracting a target audience through modern, topical cinematic language and expression.

Shoot me now. On the other hand, the stills (and young couple) are lovely and director Barkhatov said he will use film rather than video to shoot the landscape of the plant, so it will certainly have some texture. And really, funning aside, it might be good: Barkhatov might surprise us all with a touching romantic tale merged with science and industry. Time will tell.

Note: NNN reader Brian Mays tells us Vanya is the diminutive for Ivan – you don’t expect a two syllable diminutive for a two syllable name, but there you are. So I guess Atomic Ivan is indeed our hero.

Comments

Anonymous said…
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/carousel/x13298183/Zombies-coming-to-Norwich#axzz1Y3UMjSHv

It certainly sounds better than the above film about Zombies caused by a nuclear meltdown, that is planned for a release this year.

D. Pulaski
Brian Mays said…
"a new Russian film called Atomic Ivan (not the young fellow – his name is Vanya)"

Actually, Vanya is the Russian diminutive (or nickname) for Ivan.

I know it's not obvious, but who would say that "Bill" is an obvious nickname for "William"? And I'll steer clear of mentioning common nicknames for Richard.
Bill said…
The English equivalent is 'Johnny/Johnnie' for 'John'.
Anonymous said…
The production company's website for the film is here:

http://www.telestofilm.ru/press/press_reliz/Nedelimoe/

"Atomic Ivan" is billed as a lyric comedy, and the description hints at romance kindled in crucible of catastrophe. Hard to tell whether this will be a knee-slapper or a tear-jerker, but I'm sold by the on-location shooting at Leningrad NPP, the oldest RBMK station still in service.

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