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Deep Dive: Engineering Red (1993)

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Engineering Red
Engineering Red is a 1993 Russian film directed by Armen Petrosyan that combines documentary and narrative elements. The film is based on Thomas Mann's novel The Magic Mountain and covers the concept of creating artificial people in the Soviet Union during the 1940s and 1950s. It is structured into three chapters, featuring both fictional and documentary storylines. The fictional narrative includes surreal scenes such as a red room and kaleidoscopic images, accompanied by a voice-over reading from The Magic Mountain. This part features a deceased soldier's thoughts on religious themes, while the documentary segment discusses medical topics like pig heart transplants and cadaveric blood transfusions, as well as the story of conjoined twins.

Why Watch

  • •See surreal scenes with a girl in red silk.
  • •Find out about pig heart transplants in the 1990s.
  • •Meet the unique blend of documentary and narrative storytelling.

Did You Know

•The film was shown at a Moscow festival alongside world-class films.
•Two or three viewers reportedly vomited while watching the film.
•The film has a total duration of 75 minutes.

Perfect For

Surrealist film enthusiastsFans of Thomas MannMedical history buffs