August 2004
 Anastasia
Lapsui (Nenet) grew up speaking her native language
in the village of Nida, located on the Yamal Peninsula, in northern
Arctic Russia. After graduating from the University of the Urals
in Sverdlovsk, Russia, Lapsui worked as a newspaper and radio
journalist. Based in Helsinki today, she directs films with Markku
Lehmuskallio. Their Seven Songs from the Tundra won Best
Film at the 2001 Jussi Awards in Finland. Lapsui writes the scripts
for their collaborative works-and sometimes contributes hide tanning
and sewing for the traditional clothing worn by the actors, who
are usually local Nenet people. The filmmakers' latest production,
A Bride of the Seventh Heaven, was inspired in part by
an unusual chapter in Lapsui's childhood, when she experienced
a period of blindness beginning the day after she was taken away
to boarding school.
Screened by NMAI
Image credit:
Anastasia Lapsui - courtesy of Helsingin Sanomat (newspaper)
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