The Desert of Forbidden Art

Running time: 80 mins

Risking being denounced as an 'enemy of the people,' a man rescues 40,000 works of art.

During the reign of the Soviet Union, a small group of artists remained true to their vision despite threats of torture, imprisonment and even death. Igor Savitsky, recognizing the brilliance of these courageous men, cajoled money out of the same authorities who were banning the paintings and amassed an amazing collection of Russian modern art. With nowhere to display his collection, he convinced a desert outpost in Uzbekistan to build a museum to house the masterpieces, now worth millions.

Directors Tchavdar Georgiev and Amanda Pope?s The Desert of Forbidden Art, however, is more than a testament to the desire and will of a man with a dream. With the help of the voices of Sir Ben Kingsley, Sally Field and Ed Asner, a visually stunning saga unfolds, depicting a time when fear and oppression tried to silence artists whose remarkable works remain as endangered today as when they were created.

? Sandy Wolf

Preceded by the short film: DANSE MACABRE; Director: Pedro Pires, Country: Canada, Film Info: 9 min - A poetic journey through the dance of death.