The phoenix rises: Peeter Rebane on Firebird

Abstract

In this interview, writer – director Peeter Rebane and I discuss his feature Firebird (2021). Set during the Cold War, the film centres on the real-life Sergey Fetisov’s (the film’s co-writer Tom Prior), Roman’s (Oleg Zagorodnii) and Luisa’s (Diana Pozharskaya) love triangle, exploring the decisions they make and their attendant consequences. Rebane and I examine the challenges of filming some extraordinary material – from underwater shots of the young Sergey (Romek Uibopuu) and Dima (Gregory Kibus) to shots of dozens and dozens of people seated in a concert hall, and from flying sequences to theatre ones – on an independent film budget, and how Rebane has retained integrity to the project without making compromises. We attend to the story on which Firebird was based; Rebane’s and Prior’s fidelity to their source material; how they expanded it to show, more prominently, the social and political context in which it is set; and how they altered Luisa’s character to show her perspective. We discuss Rebane’s extensive research into and recreation of the film’s world, which includes meeting with the real-life Sergey, to whom it is dedicated; casting it; and studying documentaries and photos to create costumes for its many actors and extras. Finally, Rebane and I explore the process of distributing Firebird during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included screening the film at numerous events worldwide. This interview provides insight into both the making and the distribution of this ambitious film adaptation.