‘Love, Antosha’ is a documentary that pays an unforgettable and moving tribute to late actor, Anton Yelchin
Anton Yelchin was only 27 when he tragically passed away but in those 27 years he lived a life that was profoundly unique as he touched the life of every person that crossed his path. Through home videos, past interviews, diary entries narrated by Nicholas Cage, and testimonies of friends and family —Love, Antosha paints the picture of Anton Yelchin’s loving and tender soul in a way that immortalizes him. Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Stewart, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Jon Voight, and Anthony Hopkins are just a few of the many co-stars and friends that pay tribute to Anton in this documentary.
Anton was the only child of Russian immigrants who came to America in 1989 to escape the worsening political climate and increased violence against Jewish people in the Soviet Union. Though not athletic himself, Anton did come from a family of performers as both his parents, Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin, were pair figure skaters at the Leningrad Ice Ballet for 15 years. As a young child, Anton was often sick and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a disorder that made it very difficult for him to breathe. However, this illness did not slow him down. He became dedicated to his health and found solace in acting.
Left to right: Anton Yelchin plays Jacob and Felicity Jones plays Anna in LIKE CRAZY, from Paramount Vantage and Indian Paintbrush.
Anton always had a deep curiosity for wanting to explore the existential depths of the human experience. He wanted to feel everything. In one such instance during Anton’s teenage years, he was cast in the move, Alpha Dogs, where his character was drunk in one particular scene. But Anton at the time had never been drunk before and he wanted to know what it felt like. He wanted to feel what his character would feel. He snuck into his parents liquor cabinet took a bottle of tequila up to his room and filmed himself drinking. Cup after cup, he described everyone single sensation to the camera as it was coming to him.
Anton’s incessant desire to explore the depths of the human experience didn’t just stop at acting. As an adult, he develop an interest for documenting LA nightlife through photography. Anton lurked in the shadows as he explored the weirdest, wildest, and raunchiest depths of LA streets and sex clubs to show a different and often unseen part of humanity. Though many found his photographs to be weird, Anton documented his subjects through an appreciative and intimate gaze.
But as much as Anton loved acting, Hollywood critics left him feeling apprehensive about his own acting abilities. He was constantly striving to push himself as he took on roles that were more complex and vulnerable. On top of this, Anton’s cystic fibrosis was taking a toll on his physical health. But once again with dedication and determination, Anton got his health back on track. He even began preparing for the next evolution in his career as he began taking steps from moving from in front of the camera as an actor to behind the camera as a director. Unfortunately, we never got the opportunity to bare witness to the next phase of Anton’s life due to his untimely death on June 19, 2016.
Love, Antosha is an unforgettable must see tribute. This documentary will take you on a journey from the beginning of Anton’s life all the way to very end. Joy, sadness, uncertainty, fear, hope—Love, Antosha explores every facet of Anton’s life so deeply that you will walk away feeling like you knew him personally. Anton Yelchin was a very special human being who spent his life open to every experience the world had to offer. He touched so many souls and left his mark in a way that can never ever be forgotten. He only lived to 27 but he lived.
‘Love, Antosha’ premieres August 2
