Overview

In an ever more dangerous world it is up to each of us to choose between a path of fear and destruction or of faith and creation.

For decades the West perceived Russia as a monolith and her people as obedient robots. The recent 'changing of the guard' has revealed the real Russia - a land of passion that is constantly on the brink of chaos, caught between East and West, wedded to her authoritarian past even as she looks to her future.

RED MERCURY explores the inner Russian conflict and suggests a bold new path, one that recognizes the fate of Russia, the U.S. and the world are inextricably linked. RED MERCURY takes us on a journey where differences are broached by understanding, where responsibility is ours to take and not to give, where we must see ourselves as we truly are and consciously choose how we live our life.

Why?

Why did I write Red Mercury? In a word, passion.

My family on my mother's side has lived in the Russian Empire/Soviet Union since about 1790 (the reign of Catherine the Great). Faced with persecution, my mother and grandmother fled Russia and came to Canada.

Many more of my family left during Gorbachev's campaign for Glasnost (openness) and after the collapse of communism, when the economy of Russia and the former Soviet Republics fell into disarray.

For many years I've had a strong desire to write a story set in the land that has been a major force in shaping my family, and which has played a role in shaping who I am through the experiences of my mother and grandmother. The key was to find a good story that would allow me to express something of the character of Russia. Contributing to this were documentaries on the Spetsnaz and the plight of Russian orphans and RussianOrphan.org. (See also: Help the Children of Beslan, Cirque du Monde, Watchdog Reports Dangers Russian Children Are Facing and Orphanages of Zaporozhye, Ukraine.)

Cirque du Soleil was born in Montreal, Canada in 1984. My first experience with it came much later, but it immediately caught my imagination and inspired me. I don't know if it's because my uncle was a circus acrobat or because my mom was briefly a circus performer at the age of 17, but I knew I had to write a film that somehow displayed the magic of the Cirque.

When I saw Quidam everything came together. The circus, the orphanages, the uncompromising world of the Spetsnaz, the culture and history of Russia and her people, my understanding of the west and of the east. And a desire to show that if fear and mistrust are relinquished, those two worlds can be joined together for the betterment of all.

RED MERCURY combines the artistry of Cirque du Soleil with the danger and intrigue of the world of international espionage. It is story about passion for life, creativity, and ultimately, peace.

- Sam Quo Vadis

The setting - Click here for images.