Russian Film Taurus Banned In India

"Taurus", the film by Russian director Alexander Sakurov which portrays the last days of Lenin's life, was banned after two performances at the international film festival in Calcutta. The festival's organisers were obliged to take the step following severe protests by youth organisations from the Indian Communist Party (Marxist) which rules in the state of West Bengalia. Leaders of the left youth severely criticised the film, in as far as the picture represented Lenin in a humiliating light, burdened with variuos vices. In response to the criticism Russian actor Leonid Mozgovoi who plays the part of Lenin and is representing the film at the festival, stated that the contorversy surrounding the film was senseless because it was based on real historic facts. Any film is the director's creature and it cannot avoid being subjective, therefore it is up to the spectators to decide whether to see it or not, the actor said.