Anna Akhmatova was one of the most beloved of Russian poets. Born in 1889, she became an outspoken voice for liberty, refusing to leave the Soviet Union even during the most terrifying of times. Based on Akhmatova's biography and the memoirs of writer Lidiya Chukovskaya, The Personal File...lyrically describes the struggles of this celebrated poet. Additionally, poignant excerpts from her diaries supply unusual insights into the lives of Akhmatova's literary cohorts: Pasternak, Blok, Tsvetayeva, Mandelstam, Solzhenitsyn and others. But Aranovich's richly-drawn documentary is also a portrait of the times, setting the trials of this courageous woman against the tumult of historical events. Stalin's reign provides an eerie and harsh backdrop, visualized through a dizzy pastiche of rare archival footage. Making good use of Akhmatova's poetry and her own voice gleaned from recorded interviews, Aranovich masterfully weaves these elements together and then intentionally skews the mood with a dramatic score. Somber yet hopeful, The Personal File of Anna Akhmatova is itself a visual poem. Opening the program, Pratibha Parmar's Flesh and Paper (26 mins, Color, 16mm Print from Women Make Movies) is an intimate portrait of Indian lesbian poet Suniti Namjoshi. Readings, dance and beautiful locations enhance this glimpse of a wry poet who overcame cultural prejudice to pursue her muse. --Steve Seid