The Documentary Sales Company 
Deckert Distribution presents:

Civil Status

"Since bio-political authorities have access to the life of the individual, a citizen's status can be read off forms and documents. Ticking some boxes, entering dates, signing, stamping, and registration is complete - complete is the human being as a dataset. Especially most emotional moments in life are very quickly transferred into tables of figures. Happiness of marriage and love, sadness of death and mourning. The young Russian woman Alina Rudnitskaya lives up to the Petersburg studio of documentary film with its long-standing tradition. Her protagonists resemble the classical look of the 60's so well, that it seems time has stood still for 40 years. Luckily, the only thing missing is the off-voice commentary. In high-contrast black and white and very precise shots unfolds the big and yet small world of the Citizen Advise Bureau. Psychological torture on both sides (the visitor's and the employee's) and an emotional spectrum ranging from phlegmatic calmness and pragmatic placidity to serious desperation and pure hysteria. People cry and scream, argue and reconcile in front of the civil servants - and if nothing helps they just fall in love with them. "What, you want the know the name of the person who is dealing with your divorce?" Nadja, just like hope in Russian."
Catalogue DOK Leipzig 2006

Original language: Russian
Subtitles: English