The Refracting Glasses (1993)

Overview

Constant Malernik, artist and filmmaker, is obsessed by the history of the Russian revolution. He makes images in homage to artists of the twentieth century, especially the constructivist V.E.Tatlin. He travels to New York, then to his past in Australia where he meets the notorious fakes, Ern and Ethel Malley. With his partner Lydia he travels to Russia at the time of the overthrow of the Communist Party. In Russia, Malernik films Lydia’s first meeting with her family. He also unearths some little-known facts about Tatlin’s flying machine, the Letatlin.