An Interview With Elena Fokina - Suspiria (2018) (Spoilers)

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Disturbing Cinema: This was your first acting role in a feature length film. How did you prepare for your role as Olga?

Elena Fokina: Yes! This was my first acting role in a big feature film, but not my first acting role in general! I've acted before on stage, and in dance films. My preparation for the role as Olga started as any other preparation for a movie role which is studying the script, and sinking into the character. Then together with the choreographer of the film Damien Jalet, we choreographed the solo of Olga's death scene, and then finally performed it in the location with Luca Guadagnino.

Disturbing Cinema: Olga's last dance is a very disturbing and iconic scene in the film where your character Olga dies by getting contorted with the result of broken bones, urination, salivation, and blood. What would you say was the most challenging part about bringing this dance scene to life?

Elena Fokina: It was such an exciting journey to film this scene! We were filming it for two whole days, and it was a joyful opportunity, and it was also great to witness how it all came together in the end. The most difficult part was to carry the weight of the prosthetics, and at the same time to keep concentration on the character of poor Olga.

Disturbing Cinema: The cast is mostly female with iconic names such as Tilda Swinton, Dakot Johnson, and Jessica Harper, who starred in the original 1997 version of Suspiria. How was your experience working with so many amazing and talented woman?

Elena Fokina: It was a great pleasure! The whole cast was just a bouquet of wonder woman! They all share a great talent, and are all amazing individuals with whom I had the gift to be next to.

Disturbing Cinema: How is Suspiria a female empowering film despite being a horror film about witchcraft and due to some of the characters actions?

Elena Fokina: In my opinion, the answer to this question cannot be unambiguous, bearing in mind that the solution to the problem of  women's rights can only be solved by the horror genre. I think that the more films that will be created on this topic, then the reasons will be more obvious. I think maybe films about witchcraft and witches reflect on female psychology. One of the differences between male psychology and female psychology is that a woman does not need to leave her house to become a winner, while men always strive for exploits and adventures outside the walls, and after killing the dragon they return as heroes. Woman bear and cherish in themselves the right to create, nurture, and educate not only future generations, but also peace, and they will do everything possible to keep this right because it's their nature - This act can be interpreted in a beautiful way or in a horrible way. It's all about how you see it.

Disturbing Cinema: Suspiria and Climax were both films released in 2018 that focused on horror and dance. What do you think makes dance and the horror genre a great combination?

Elena Fokina: I think it's because dance as a language is highly applicable to any emotional state of a human being. Any emotional state carries not only feelings, but also physical visual form which is possible to achieve by using the body, and can be achieved twice as great by a body of a highly skilled dancer.

Disturbing Cinema: Finally I would like to conclude this interview by asking you one of my signature questions which is what is the most disturbing film you have ever seen and why?

Elena Fokina: The Painted Bird (2019) directed by Václav Marhoul. I got disturbed by watching the trailer, and I didn't dare to watch the whole film through, but I must! We all must watch it!

Disturbing Cinema: Congratulations on the film, and thank you once again for taking your time answering my questions, Elena Fokina. It was a great pleasure interviewing you.




Suspiria (2018) Plot Summary: A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.

You can buy or rent Suspiria (2018) here:








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