• Documentary
• THE WOMAN WITH THE FIVE ELEPHANTS

THE WOMAN WITH THE FIVE ELEPHANTS

Synopsis

A revelatory investigation into language, meaning and the tides of history, The Woman with the Five Elephants unravels the mystery behind the life and work of Svetlana Geier, the world's greatest translator of Russian literature. Geier's renown stems from her groundbreaking translations of Dostoevsky's five great novels—referred to as the five elephants. But her great success has come with its share of loss. Born in Ukraine in 1923, she witnessed first-hand the impact of Stalin's purges. As a young girl, she watched Nazi forces occupy her country and execute 30,000 Jews. It was her unique gift for languages that ultimately saved her. But it forced her to make a choice that forever altered her life.

Special Features

· Deleted Scenes
· Theatrical Trailer
· Bonus Short: Portrait (2002, 28 minutes), an award-winning short film from Russian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa

Film Reviews

"Wonderful. Director Jendreyko elegantly sketches in the details of his subject's life and the historical events surrounding her coming-of-age—out of which emerges a fascinating subtext about the malleable powers of language."
—Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York

"A beautifully composed gem."
—Jay Weisberg, Variety

"A quietly astonishing documentary."
—Mark Jenkins, NPR

"Fascinating."
—Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine

Trailer