One of the most important Russian writers of the twentieth century,  Solzhenitsyne gained worldwide renown or his novels on Soviet labour camps.

In 1970 he was offered the Nobel Prize for Literature.  His major novels include Cancer Ward, First Circle and Gulag Archipelago which finally led to his deportation from the soviet Union in 1974.  The film includes a rare interview with the writer.

A film by Michel Parfenov and Françoise Wolff
Directed by Françoise Wolff
Interviews with Alexander Solzhenitsyn conducted by Nikita Struve 1976 and 1998
Texts by Alexander Solzhenitsyn read by Jean-Louis Trintignant
Original music: Marc Marder
Image: Remon Fromont, Jérôme Mignard & Igor Youchkovets
Sound : Sacha Ivanov & Matthieu Daude
Editing: Bruno Barbey

A Compagnie des Phares et Balises & France 3 coproduction
With the participation of the Ministry of Culture and Communication (International Affairs Department) and the National Centre for Cinema and Moving Images

© Cie des Phares & Balises – France 3 – 1999