Desert of Forbidden Art
During the Soviet regime, a small group of artists remain true to their vision despite threats of torture, imprisonment and death. Their plight inspires a frustrated young painter Igor Savitsky. Pretending to buy state-approved art, Savitsky instead daringly rescues 40,000 forbidden fellow artists’ works and creates a museum in the desert of Uzbekistan, far from the watchful eyes of the KGB.
Ben Kingsley, Sally Field and Ed Asner voice the diaries and letters of Savitsky and the artists. Intercut with recollections of the artists’ children and rare archival footage, the film takes us on a dramatic journey of sacrifice for the sake of creative freedom. Described as “one of the most remarkable collections of 20th century Russian art” by The New York Times and located in one of the world’s poorest regions, today these priceless paintings are a lucrative target for Islamic fundamentalists, corrupt bureaucrats and art profiteers.