THE DELEGATION

Yet another gaggle of tourists arrive in Venice, the most magically beautiful city on earth – and often, the most deceptive. All women, they are members of a “delegation,” about to spend their final 48 hours in Italy before returning to their forlorn “workers” paradise.” Unused to Western opulence, most of them are eager to partake of the few luxuries they can afford on their meager allotment of rubles: a shopping bag full of food for the kids, a few minutes' worth of soft porn on the hotel TV. One member of the delegation, however, isn't satisfied: Chloja (Inna Churikova) sets out on her own to enjoy long strolls through the city's labyrinthine streets and voluptuous meals in its fabled restaurants. Suddenly she is swept away by a handsome knight, Lorenzo (Luca Barbareshi). He squires her all around the magic city, making her feel like a real princess, except that ultimately the piper will indeed have to be paid. Renowned theater director Alexander Galin is ably abetted by wonderful perfromances from the always magnificent Churikova (“The Year of the Dog.” 18th CIFF, 1994) and Barbareschi.