I Loved You

A poetic trilogy of stories about love and relationships in different stages of life, linked by love songs sung by Ivan Kozlovsky to lyrics by Alexander Pushkin. Each shot in a different format (35mm, 16mm and digital video), the three films work their way backwards through a human lifespan. The first part, , which won the IDFA Special Jury Award in 1998, centers on the relationship between Pavel Kogan and his wife Lyalya, both filmmakers. Pavel is on his deathbed in their home in Jerusalem. The only thing he wants now is to return to St. Petersburg, his former hometown, but Lyalya is convinced that this journey would be the death of him. In her mind, every day in Jerusalem is another one she can spend with her husband. The second part, , features the wedding day of two young lovers. They have chosen each other despite their skeptical families' misgivings about their union. The unconditional nature of this love is playfully put under scrutiny in the final part, . The toddlers in a Russian playgroup may be displaying a striking number of adult traits, and some are even determined to marry, but their infatuations are volatile and playful. In 10 minutes, they could very well be married to someone else.