THE MEDIATOR (POSREDNIK)
Dir. Vladimir Potapov, 1990
USSR. 219 min

THE LAST SOVIET SCI-FI FILM

Aliens with the ability to implant their consciousnesses inside living people make first contact in a quiet Soviet town. It seems that only children, geniuses and the clinically eccentric are unaffected by the invaders’ mind control device - the mediator. Alien influence spreads through the area without restraint, and it soon becomes difficult to tell comrade from foe. Racing to stop the imposters before they can execute the final stages of their plan, the fate of the world depends on the success of three young friends on a dangerous mission.

Loosely based on the novel Main Noon by Aleksandr Mirer, THE MEDIATOR was released as a three-part TV movie in 1990. The looming dissolution of the Soviet Union hovers right near the surface of the film with outside influence driving a rift in the small industrial town. It's a war of intellects and ideologies, but don't think it's short on artillery and style. Explosions, slow motion machine guns, glowing orbs and attack helicopters abound. Shot in both color and a beautifully moody sepia tone and accompanied by eery, reverb-loaded sound design, THE MEDIATOR succeeds in sending Soviet sci-fi off with a bang.

The film will be shown in its entirety with a 10 minute intermission.