DAU
Synopsis
Inspired by the physicists who built the Soviet atomic bomb, the film DAU follows a brilliant Greek-born physicist from 1928 through four tumultuous decades in the USSR. Driven to uncover the laws of the universe, the idealistic Dau is drawn into state service to help create one of history’s deadliest weapons. Inside a secret research institute, life is governed by scientific ambition, power, surveillance and privilege. As his autonomy erodes, Dau seeks freedom beyond his marriage through a succession of affairs, gradually losing both himself and his capacity to love. At once an intimate portrait of a man in pursuit of happiness and freedom and a vast fresco of a society founded on violence and ideology, DAU traces the small compromises that shape a life and alter the course of history.
Top Cast
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Teodor Currentzis
Dau
Radmila Shegoleva
Nora
Anatoly Vasiliev
Anatoly Krupitsa
Vladimir Azhippo
Azhippo
Dmitri Tcherniakov
Dmitry Cheglakov
Demyan Kudryavstev
Maria Nafpliotou
Ekaterina Andreeva
Viktorija Skyc'ka
Konstantin Lešan
Ekaterina Pačkovskaja
Alexey Blinov
Alexey Trifonov
Pēteris Ķimelis
Dmitry Kaledin
Nikita Nekrasov
Aleksandr Migdal
Release History & Theatrical Window
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ilya Khrzhanovsky
- Screenplay & Story
- Ilya Khrzhanovsky, Susanne Marian, Vladimir Sorokin, Ilya Permyakov
- Original Title
- DAU
- Country of Origin
- Germany, France, Sweden, Russia
- Spoken Languages
- Russian, English, Greek
- Runtime
- 3h 15m
- Production Studios
- Société Parisienne de Production, ARTE France Cinéma, Phenomen Berlin, Essential Filmproduktion, Plattform Produktion, WDR
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ilya Khrzhanovsky
Ilya Khrzhanovsky, Susanne Marian, Vladimir Sorokin, Ilya Permyakov
Jürgen Jürges, Manuel Alberto Claro, Lol Crawley
Ilya Permyakov, Rob Myers
Ilya Khrzhanovsky, Philippe Bober, Leonid Lebedev
Department Leadership Roster
Ilya Khrzhanovsky
Director
Ilya Khrzhanovsky
Writer
Susanne Marian
Writer
Vladimir Sorokin
Writer
Ilya Permyakov
Writer
Ilya Permyakov
Editor
Rob Myers
Editor
Jürgen Jürges
Director of Photography
Manuel Alberto Claro
Director of Photography
Lol Crawley
Director of Photography
Denis Shibanov
Production Design
Olga Gurevich
Production Design
Boris Shapovalov
Production Design
Lyubov Mingazitinova
Costume Design
Irina Tsvetkova
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for DAU.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring DAU.
Watchlist
Sovyetler Birliği, Doğu Almanya ve Romanya
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Frequently Asked Questions About DAU
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is DAU about?
Inspired by the physicists who built the Soviet atomic bomb, the film DAU follows a brilliant Greek-born physicist from 1928 through four tumultuous decades in the USSR. Driven to uncover the laws of the universe, the idealistic Dau is drawn into state service to help create one of history’s deadliest weapons. Inside a secret research institute, life is governed by scientific ambition, power, surveillance and privilege. As his autonomy erodes, Dau seeks freedom beyond his marriage through a succession of affairs, gradually losing both himself and his capacity to love. At once an intimate portrait of a man in pursuit of happiness and freedom and a vast fresco of a society founded on violence and ideology, DAU traces the small compromises that shape a life and alter the course of history.
Who directed DAU?
DAU was directed by Ilya Khrzhanovsky.
Who stars in DAU?
The principal cast of DAU includes Teodor Currentzis, Radmila Shegoleva, Anatoly Vasiliev, Vladimir Azhippo, Dmitri Tcherniakov.
When was DAU released and how long is it?
DAU was released in 2026 with a total runtime of 3h 15m.