Twenty-two-year-old Evelina (Alina Nasibullina), also known as Velya, is a law school grad who enjoys living in her native Minsk, Belarus. But, as Velya proudly announces in a trailer for “Crystal Swan,” her real passions are music and travel. “I’d love to see the world and visit Chicago, because I want to see the birthplace of house music,” she says.
Since it’s 1996 and Trump won’t take office for another 20 years, the aspiring DJ’s immigration plans go relatively smoothly. The one snag is her employment status: in order to get a visa, she must prove she has a steady job — which is easier said than done in the middle of an economic crisis. As Velya searches for work, friends and family try to convince her to stay in Minsk (“A person should live in her motherland”), but she remains adamant about leaving. “Nothing will ever change here,” she explains.
“Crystal Swan” marks director Darya Zhuk’s feature debut. Zhuk has previously directed shorts and an episode of “Filfak.” She wrote the script with Helga Landauer (“Arcadia”).
The pic will premiere this Saturday, June 30 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The fest runs June 29-July 7. No word on distribution or an official release for “Crystal Swan” yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpu58VDlAqI
