Abigail (2019 film)
A 2019 Russian steampunk fantasy film about magic and deceit.
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Abigail (Russian: Эбигейл) is a 2019 Russian steampunk fantasy adventure film. Aleksandr Boguslavsky directed it, and Viktor Denisyuk and Yevgeny Melentyev co-produced it for the company KinoDanz. Tinatin Dalakishvili plays the title role of Abigail Foster, alongside Gleb Bochkov, Rinal Mukhametov, Artyom Tkachenko, and Ravshana Kurkova. 20th Century Fox CIS released the film in Russian theaters on August 22, 2019.
The story follows a young girl named Abigail who lives in a town sealed off from the outside world by the government after a mysterious illness swept through years earlier. When she was six, her father was taken away as one of the "infected." While searching for him, Abigail discovers the epidemic was a lie. Her city is actually ruled by dark magic users who wiped out other sorcerers, banned magic, and tried to erase its existence. The epidemic was a cover for "cleansing" the city of magic. The Special Department continues to kidnap anyone showing magical abilities, labeling them "infected." Most residents do not realize their rulers are prison wardens, not protectors.
Abigail soon finds magical powers awakening inside her. Frightened, she tries to suppress them, but the magic grows stronger. Agents from the Special Department begin hunting her, forcing her to flee home. Her journey, full of danger and adventure, completely changes her understanding of magic and her world.
The cast includes Tinatin Dalakishvili as Abigail Foster, Alina Babak as young Abigail, Artyom Tkachenko as Jonathan Foster, Gleb Bochkov as Bale, Rinal Mukhametov as Norman, Artyom Tkachenko as William Garrett, Ravshana Kurkova as Stella, Olivier Siou as Spenser, Cecile Plage as Lilian, Nikita Tarasov as Ethan, Petar Zekavitsa as Roy, Nikita Dyuvbanov as Marcus, and Ivan Chuykov as rebel Ryan.
Filming took place in Saint Petersburg, Gatchina, Moscow, and the historic part of Tallinn, Estonia. The fantasy city's look was based on ancient buildings and narrow streets from Tallinn and Saint Petersburg, finished with computer graphics. Principal photography transformed Tallinn into the streets of the fictional city Fensington, where the story's fairy-tale events occur. The filmmakers created an original concept of magic and a style for the closed fantasy city, blending steampunk with an early 20th-century atmosphere. Unique designs were made
- Director
- Aleksandr Boguslavsky
- Release date
- August 22, 2019 (Russia)
- Country
- Russia
- Genre
- Steampunk fantasy adventure
- Production company
- KinoDanz
- Distributor
- 20th Century Fox CIS
- Lead actress
- Tinatin Dalakishvili
Lore & Background
The film follows Abigail Foster, a young girl living in a town sealed off from the outside world after a supposed epidemic of a mysterious illness. Her father was taken away when she was six years old. While searching for him, Abigail discovers that the epidemic was a lie; the town is actually ruled by dark magic users who wiped out other sorcerers and banned magic. The Special Department continues to capture anyone with magical powers, labeling them 'infected.' Most inhabitants believe the rulers are protectors, not prison wardens.
Abigail finds magical powers stirring within her, which she initially tries to suppress. As the magic grows, agents from the Special Department begin hunting her. She flees her home and embarks on a journey that transforms her understanding of magic and the world. The film's cast includes Tinatin Dalakishvili as Abigail Foster, Alina Babak as young Abigail, and Artyom Tkachenko as Jonathan Foster.
Reader's Guide
Abigail represents a notable entry in Russian steampunk fantasy cinema, blending historical aesthetics with magical themes. The film's plot subverts the epidemic narrative to critique authoritarian control, as the government uses a false illness to suppress magic and imprison citizens. This allegory resonates with broader themes of oppression and hidden truth. The production's use of real locations in Saint Petersburg, Gatchina, Moscow, and Tallinn, enhanced by computer graphics, creates a visually distinct closed city. The film's original magic system and steampunk design contribute to its unique identity within the genre. While not widely known internationally, Abigail showcases the ambition of Russian fantasy filmmaking and the work of KinoDanz, a studio that also handled visual effects. Its release by 20th Century Fox CIS indicates a push for wider distribution. The film's legacy lies in its creative world-building and its reflection of societal fears about surveillance and hidden power.
Did You Know?
- The film was directed by Aleksandr Boguslavsky and co-produced by Viktor Denisyuk and Yevgeny Melentyev.
- Principal photography was completed in Tallinn, Estonia, which was transformed into the fictional city Fensington.
- The epidemic in the plot is revealed to be a cover for the government's suppression of magic.
- Visual effects for the film were created by VFX-studio Kinodanz.
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