sunlion Reviews

Zhenitba Balzaminova (1964)

The fulfilled dream of one director

[9/10 · 23 March 2005]

The movie is an adaptation of a very old Russian satirical novel. To adapt the novel for the screen and make a movie was a long-time dream of the director of this movie. During the most stringent Soviet rule he couldn't make it, the censorship didn't allow it for some reasons (that could be sometimes truly bizarre and incomprehensible). Finally he succeeded and the movie was made.

The main character - young clerk who was supposed to be 17 years old, was played by brilliant Georgy Vitsin, who at the time of filming was over 50 !

The film is very light and playful, but never dumb, no unnecessary banana-peel jokes. It is a real "cure against the stress" and also another example of how a funny movie can also be a work of art.

Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)

Greatest psychological film on war

[10/10 · 21 November 2004]

This series are far greater than anything that has been filmed about war ever. It shows closely characters of German Nazi top during the last weeks of the war, when they understand that the war is lost. A Russian spy is working among them speeding up the war's end.

The pace of the film is slow and thorough, the movie is meant for people with ability to analyze, reflect. Characters of the people involved are depicted are so lively that the film fuses with the documentary pieces. Acting is extremely raw and natural, it actually in't acting, it's living. Tihonov in a role of Stirlitz portrays a real spy - brilliantly talented, sharp, calm, cold, patient - everything that areal spy has to be. At the same time he is not a greedy adventurous coat-turner, he works for his country, his people, his family. And the last - this film works as a litmus test on people. If you don't understand it you simply haven't matured for it. The film itself is flawless.

The Adventures of Buratino (1960)

Animation masterpiece

[10/10 · 13 November 2004]

This film is an animated version of "Buratino", book that was written by a Russian writer based on "Pinokkio". No offense to the original, but I personally and many people I know prefer "Buratino" to "Pinokkio" that has rather grim and moralising mood. Buratino is a story for the children without the "finger shaking". Characters - puppets are fighting against their evil owner Karabas Barabas and his henchmen - leech collector Duremar and a pair of swindlers - a fox Alice and a fake blind cat Bazilio.

Phrases from the book and this film have turned into a sayings in former USSR. For instance dubious dealings that promise instant fortune are called "the Field of Miracles in the Land of Fools". Another phrase is the one that's uttered by the fox - "money, Bazilio, likes the counting". Film has wonderful music and song lyrics.

Teatris (1978)

Theater by name and nature

[10/10 · 2 November 2004]

This clear brilliant should be used as a measure for acting. The cast, script, atmosphere, music, everything is so flawless because...because there is no philosopher's stone method that turns any actor into a good actor. There is talent - this film is a full, bright, shining example of talent. Talents of actors, the director, virtually everyone who put work into this movie. This is why everything seems so easy and natural, why the jokes fly in exactly the right moments, why the words, music and lights captivates you.

The movie is a comedy. It's Latvian comedy - intuitive, light, elegant to it's utmost. But putting it on the same shelf as say "Beethoven" is an insult, however one might like the latter. "Beethoven" is bright plastic, "Theater" is gold.

Don't try to recognize the Moem's book in the film, the novel has been used only as a thread to follow. The style of directing is very interesting and yes - theatrical. The director (the real director actually) appears behind the camera in black top hat and white gloves and talks straight to the main character from behind the screen while the action goes on, he is seen only by Julia. Julia Lambert, the great actress is shown acting her life.

___SPOILERS___________ Excellent example of the style of the movie is a moment when Julia wants to get her young lover back and pretends to be sick so he would be ashamed of himself for leaving. She sits at the mirror putting on the makeup of a tragic character she has played. She says to the director that is watching it - "I'm going to make him sorry for what he said !". She lies down on a sofa as if she's going to die. Director exclaims "Exellent ! Light ! Camera ! Action !". The light go dim, the young man runs into the room and the whole scene of begging and forgiving is played out.

Music is immensely atmospheric, the "harpsicord" part is played by famous Latvian pianist Raimonds Pauls, who in Latvia is referred to simply as "maestro".

Trest, kotoryy lopnul (1983)

A must-see

[8/10 · 25 March 2004]

A must-see witty comedy, that has fun and philosophy in one. It is inspired by short stories of O`Henry, and has wonderful songs and song lyrics.I would compare the style of this film to Italian "Bluff", but only close. This movie is from a Golden Age of Soviet movies, when comedies were funny and poignant at the same time, and were made by talented and very wise people. Grittiness and stupidity were not cultivated and punches & swearwords were not the way to make people laugh. This movie tells jokes and makes people look at themselves and think. The plot is basically the adventures of two con-men, who are trying to make a living by small-scale swindling.

!!! Watch it with GOOD subtitles, if you don`t speak Russian. And if you don`t speak it and are watching the movie without subtitles, then don`t say that you did not like the movie, because "only some of the chasing was funny", like I found for some other excellent Soviet comedies here !

The Dog in the Manger (1978 TV Movie)

Absolut brilliant

[10/10 · 11 March 2004]

This is a work of art that is so brilliantly talented, that it is hard to believe that it is possible to capture on film something so perfect. It is a 300 years old play by Lope de Vega who wrote so many that he was called Phoenix of Spain, most of it comedies. The movie is perfect in any way - as a theater transformed onto film, as a musical (music by Gladkov), as a comedy, even as drama.

If this film would be allowed to travel to worlds movie festivals it would come back with a truckload of awards. What is to be said about this film above all the rest - actors, actors, actors ! They are not teenagers picked of the street and artificially pumped into stardom, they are real, genuine, actors, actors by heart and hard work, immensely talented people, seasoned in cinema and theater. Even the surroundings and costumes (which for some reason always interests Westerners so much) are stunning, they are so live, breathing, as if picked out of the authentic paintings. Terehova carries herself in such way, that if Isabella of Portugal herself has stepped down from the painting in her flaming red velvet dress she would look pale and gray. Terehova really IS the great and majestic Diana, it doesn`t have to be accented and hinted by syrupy sounds, blurry shots and all that stuff.

Watch it ! This movie really is seventh ART !

Formula of Love (1984 TV Movie)

A masterpiece

[10/10 · 28 February 2004]

This one of the films which can be used as a test for ones intelligence. It calls for an ability to understand subtle multilayered humor, hints, double-meanings and symbolisms. It`s rating speaks for itself. Where else can you see such a mixture of humor and philosophy. First the phrase brings the laughter, but leaves you thinking further and further.

Everything is so full of talent, wit and kind wisdom, that it grabs you even if you watch it for hundred times. This is a quality of real art.

The script is written by Gorin, who is da Vinci of satirical humor, most of the text has already embedded itself into a former Soviet country modern day folklore.

Blagochestivaya Marta (1980 TV Movie)

Lope de Vega enriched

[9/10 · 27 February 2004]

A classic masterpiece of the Russian cinema, that stems from theater. A 17 century comedy, which probably would be just mildly amusing in a routine performance, here, performed by a cast of immensely brilliant actors (and also friends and very close colegues in life), directed by a very talented director in a style of a musical comedy and set with music by a most generous and wonderful composer, the 300 years old play shines like a restored old Velaskez painting. This is not "costume movie", it is the best performance of the work of "Phoenix of the Spain" that it ever had. This film illustrates that fun in no way has to be vulgar, sloppy and full of cliches, and art is boring only when done by a non-artist nincompoop. The fact that all former USSR is watching these films again after the wave of Western production is absolutely no wonder. This is art, enough said !

P.S. The "matching diamond" is film "Dog on a hay" (Sobaka na sene), by another play by de Vega.

A Slave of Love (1976)

It`s not a movie, it`s a mood

[27 February 2004]

This movie performed a miracle - it captured a mood, an atmosphere so raw, full, that you are feeling the stuffy summer air, the slow dusty wind, candy-sweet smell of southern flowers in a hot small Krimean town. The fact that the revolution is coming closer makes it eary and subtly frightening, as if you know that there`s a needle in someone`s bouquet of camelias.

The acting is done in a way that you can`t believe it is not documentary, but film frames are like a picture frames, they airy and weightlessly capture fading scenes of decadent beauty. Then the violence comes and awakens the characters, they are silly,comical and immensely tragic at the same time.But even the shootings and some real documental footage don`t brake the atmosphiere, it only changes, darkens, like before the storm. All of it is symbolically captured in a scene in the garden, when the operator is trying to tell Olga that the old life is stale, unjust, senseless, the rush of wind runs over the park growing in strength along with the monologue. But she does not understand him, she thinks he`s just jealous and laughs in ignorance of the storms to come.

A Cruel Romance (1984)

Classic live

[23 February 2004]

I read a comment from one of the readers that he has a difficulty understanding the film from the Western point of view. At least this time the viewer admits having problems with crossing the cultural boundary. Film is not riddled with cliches, it`s theatrical and highly artistic. It should be viewed almost as a poem translated into reality. It doest`n ask from actors just stand there and act natural, it asks for a brilliant, almost satirical work, which is performed in this movie perfectly. Realism is not the goal here. And yet, story like that very well could happened at that time, to the smallest details.

Beg (1971)

Brilliant acting, tragic and comical simultaneously

[9/10 · 12 February 2004]

Sensitive, fantasmagorycal, talented rendering of Bulgakovs play "The Run", it has that Soviet film quality - when you watch, you forget that it`s acting.

The film is about a group of people who in other times wouldn't have anything in common, some of them innocent bystanders, some moral criminals. But nothing is straightforward and simple. From Russia "the run" continues to Constantinopole, to Paris, back to Russia. Some of them have understood that they can`t live outside Russia and go back maybe to be happy, maybe not, some go back to face sure death for their crimes, some don`t go back and know that are going to miss homeland forever, some are comfortably well off (are they?) in exile. Sentimental without syrup, tragic and comical at the same time.

It`s Bulgakov ! What else should be said ?

Well, Just You Wait! (1969–2017)

Funny in a childish but smart way

[28 January 2004]

Cartoon IS funny. One comment said that the "Roadrunner" was the "Nu pogodi!" creators aim. It was not. And anyone who thinks that unnoying loud bird blowing someone up again and again and agonizingly again in exactly the same manner until you have a kneejeark reaction is funny, should simply go back to kindergarten. I presume that the commenter was from Moscow, which makes the comment even more bizzarre. "Nu pogodi!" is meant for children. And made in Soviet times, when children were allowed to have their childhood. Trey were not required at the youngest age to watch swashbuckling and syrupy soap-opera kissing in cartoons and films made for kids by people who don`t know how to make films for kids and make just watered-down versions of adult products "with all the good stuff cut out". In "Nu pogodi!" the wolf is not actually a predator, but a hooligan, a schoolyard bully, an older and stronger type that likes to push around younger and the weaker. The use of the music is very appropriate and makes the cartoon sometimes histerically funny. The idea is to make fun, not to glare with sadistic anticipation how someone gets hurt endlessly, and when someone do get hurt in "Nu pogodi!" it is noted and calls for sympathy. People who made the cartoon are professionals at working for children audience, and their natural kindness and talent was put into this cartoon, even if inspired by some other Western work, but entirely capable of standing by itself and to get the highest points for being a good, non-aggressive comedy with kind humor.

Legenda o Tile (1977)

Harshly authentic historical drama

[19 January 2004]

The movie is based on the book. It graphically tells a story of a couple of orphans who grew up in Flemish town at a time of which burnings in a thick dirty air of suspicion, fear and everpresent chance to get caught and tortured and killed with or without reason. The movie is enormously atmospheric, grim and realistic. It emerges the viewer in a cold unhospitable, lonely world of small, frightened, bigoted people, who are ready to tell on anybody else just to get out themselves, of highstanding cruel egoistic rich, and among this - small light sparkles of people who are able to see through the thick smoke of hate and stagnation.

Filmed in a perfectly authentic surroundings, in an old town. In the leading role is Lembit Ulfsak, who later appeared as Paganel in "Searching for captain Grant".

Ubit drakona (1988)

Masterpiece and callout to people

[10 January 2004]

This film is not to be taken as just a gruesome fairy tale. It`s a sharp and biting glance of an effect of power on people. It follows how power corrupts people and especially highlights and shames those who quietly succumbs to tyrany just for the dear piece even if it means betraying your loved ones and everyone around. The blazing line that goes through film -"kill the dragon and you become the next dragon". Is it possible not to fall prey for a comfort of being a tyrant, not to become another dragon ? Wondering knight Lancelot has to find that out for himself.

//--POSSIBLE SPOILERS--------// One shot from the film that I would like to mention especially - when the death of Dragon is pronounced to people and the voice shout from the city wall - "people, now you have your freedom !", for the minute crowd stands numb, than the voices raise in jubilation, but the camera turns and shows a bunch of scrawny mails, one of them suddenly yells "freedom!", turns over the nearby apple stand, grabs the passing by woman and tries to drag her in an ally.

No rosy happy end here. Where freedom turns into anarchy ? What to do about it ? Instate another tyrany and become another Dragon ? Recommended to anyone who thinks that things are easy - just take the sword and slash something. This will make you think again.

Drug (1988)

Heartbreaking and brilliant

[8/10 · 10 January 2004]

This film will tear your heart out. You will laugh at times and at the same time gasp in horror. Not at the mummies that jump out from under a toilet lid with a knife in their teeth, but at the tipping of the scales that measure the humanity of the main character, the run-down alcoholic.

//------------SPOILERS-----------------// The story is almost in Bulgakov`s style. The half-mad from drinking man is encountered by a talking dog. The dog takes interest in him and tries to get him to stop drinking. To watch it is very funny and at the same time you keep thinking - my God, how low can a man get himself in this depth ? And why ?! It can be attributed not only to drinking. In it`s place could be drug abuse, gambling or just immorality and egoism as a sickness. In an agony of wanting to get a drink the man is calling for the dog exterminators who drag the dog away. This is like falling of an ax, the steel one over the dog`s head and one of the other kind over the head of the man. The very last moment of the film shows the dog walking back into the room. You are left wandering is it really happening. If not for this last moment, the film would be so sharply heartbreaking that it would be almost impossible to watch.

Vizit k Minotavru (1987)

detective and historical drama in one

[8/10 · 10 January 2004]

Screenplay is by Vainer brothers, who often used "two lined" way of writing. Action shifts from 20 to 16 century, from the work of an ordinary Soviet detective who is looking for the stolen Stradivari violin, to the time when the violin was made. Stradivari and detective is played by the same actor, which adds a bit of mysticism. To find the violin detective takes a psychological approach. Film doesn`t have car chases, shootouts and other "Hollywood stuff". It is powerful emotionally, we are watching the torments of Stradivari who`s sons are abandoning his one after another and following the detective uncover peoples life stories along the way, while he`s searching for the thief and the violin. Note- amazing music in the film and in the end is played by a famous Soviet violinist on a real (!) Stradivari violin.

The Circus (1936)

Propaganda, but talented

[9 January 2004]

It`s funny to see Americans so picky about this movie, when Russians at than time and still are portrayed much worse in Hollywood productions. It`s either gangsters or drunk "comrades". Also I have to add that the famous singer Paul Robson was living some time in Soviet Russia and sent his son to Soviet high school. In later interview the son told BBC that it was the only time when he didn`t felt subhuman in his entire life. There`s the racism for you ! As for the Stalin - people didn`t know anything at that time and were just rebuilding the country that was finally theirs, so the jubilant scenes are absolutely rightful,they were supposed to gratify people for their immensely hard work and show what they have already achieved. Plus the march scenes are not a bit more silly than for example "water games" shot in Hollywood and featuring just diving, swimming an endless liters of colored water and smoke. I have to mention the actress in lead role - Orlova. She was a prime dancer of the Soviet cinema. Film features one shot that shows just how great her talent as an actress was. When she dances on the cannon, it`s closed with a thick glass and lit up from inside. The glass during the dance heated up, and when she sits down she actually sits on something like an oven ring. But she continues to sing !! You can only note the slight trepidation in her voice if you know about the accident, otherwise it`s seamless !

Overall, this movie has to be taken along with the context and ability to be fair both ways. After all, Stalins face was used by filmmakers as a means to get their films through,so you can just peel that away as an ugly wrapping.

Bezymyannaya zvezda (1979 TV Movie)

Philosophical fairy-tale for grownups

[8 January 2004]

A beautiful rendering of a book, a fairy-tale for grownups. The theme is being rich and poor, what it means to people, can we really give up riches for love in search of happiness or do the riches comprise our happiness. Poor people living in a small sleepy town and rich ones going around the world, which are happier, in what way, do they realize it ?

"With my love it`s paradise even in a straw hut" , is it so for the heroes of the film ?

Zdravstvuyte, ya vasha tyotya! (1975 TV Movie)

Flying improvisation

[10/10 · 8 January 2004]

The cast of these brilliant actors was "let loose" during the filming and delivered a shining, wild and immensely funny theatrical comedy, full of buffoonery and harlequin-style acrobatics. Actors themselves were confessing that the filming itself was a comedy and was enjoyed more like a party then a work. This fun can be felt through the whole film.

Ugryum-reka (1969– )

Deep, dark, mystical, breathtaking

[9/10 · 8 January 2004]

Film is in black and white, which does not take anything away, but rather adds to mood of the film. It`s a drama, melodrama, detective, romance, all in one. It shows how a man is transformed first by hardships and then by success and goes from a young fighter for truth and fairness to just another tyrant and bloodsucker.

//----------SPOILERS--------the plot-----------// Story is set in deep Russia, on a wild river in woods called "Ugrum-reka"-the Moody river. Son of a dishonest trader, Prohor Gromov ("grom" means "thunder", very poignant) wants to become his own man.

He takes his fathers order and goes trough the woods to deliver the furs to the byer in the nearest town. He tries to take the shorter way and get`s lost. At the highest point of this, his fathers servant, Abdulla, who is sent with him to guard him almost shoots him driven by hunger, but comes to the senses and saves his life by continuing to go on. But at the last moment they are rescued and taken in by another trader. Prohor takes a move at his daughter, more out of money interest than sympathy. He returns to his home and finds that his father has an affair with a beauty and "witch" Anfisa, who madly falls in love with Prohor. Prohor also is crazy of love and jealosy. But still, he wants to marry the rich young lady. He gives to her a gift - pearl earrings. The girls father, trader who helped him and had also done business with his father suddenly recognizes the earrings. They belonged to his mother, who was killed along with her husband and family by robbers who took all the jewelery. Turns out that Prohor`s father is a former robber. Prohor is mad at his for dashing his hopes for a rich wife. He tries to make business himself and in doing so runs into an old tungus man, who lives in forest herding his reindeers. He sais he knows where to get gold from a river, but on a condition, that Prohors stays and fathers a son to the younger daughter, who`s husband was killed by a bear. Prohor stays and has a mystical encounter with a native tungus woman, who asks him to stay, but in the morning turns out that she died long ago and is leading local hunters into deathtraps. This leaves a great imprint on Prohor, but he stays for the year and fulfills the old man`s condition. Now he has gold and he starts to do business. When he returns home he finds out that his father is openly going out with Anfisa. He is still in love with her, but she says she will marry the father if he gets divorce. Prohor is split between the love for his mother and Anfisa who is a cause of many drunken rampages from the father, bothered that his old wife is an obsticle to his marriage. Prohor tries to mediate, but passions run high and once in a feat of madness, he jumps on a horse, flies to Anfisa`s house and shoots her through the window. Investigation reveals that he is the most possible murderer, but he escapes by putting the blame on Abdulla, repaying with evil for saving his life in the forest. After that he incidentally fights with his father who get`s stroke and is put in a hospital for mentally ill. Which makes Prohor the head of the company. His mother soon dies. Prohor tries to go back to the young lady and persuade her to marry him. He throws himself before her father and is forgiven. After the wedding his wealth is increasing by the hour. In his youth he was saying that in his company the people would have decent working conditions and good pay, but now, years later his only dream is to be a master of the whole Ugrum-reka. So the company is pulling veins from the workers, Prohors wife is trying to reason with him but only gets laughed at. Now he is blackmailed by a police inspector, who was at the Anfisa`s house ans aquired a box with papers which could do damage to Prohor. He tries to by the papers but ends up paying more and more until the blackmailer asks for the large share of the company. Prohor finds a man and orders murder or the police inspector. papers are burned, danger is over, another murder on contience. His company is already close to costing a million. Each time another "pud" of gold is got out of the river the bell is rung, and it`s ringing frequently. The people, tortured by an inhumane condition try to make a rebellion, but Prohor send czars guard to brake the mutiny. Soldiers are ordered to fire at people. This is a breaking point. Prohors brutality clashes with his contience and he goes mad.He runs off to the forest and while running sees and hears the tungus woman and Anfisa calling him, while visions of his murders are rising against him from shadows. In agony he jumps off the cliff into Ugrum-reka.

Ishchite zhenshchinu (1983 TV Movie)

Sparkling champagne

[10/10 · 6 January 2004]

Light, sparkly, witty detective-comedy performed by Soviet film and theater "dinosaurs". Brilliant performances, airy-light improvisations, word and movement humor of the highest grade. Film is witty, funny and elegant. Not for the blockbuster fans.

Twelve Chairs (1977)

Pure genius

[10/10 · 5 January 2004]

This is pure genius - every word, every movement, and yet it doesn`t seem like they are orchestrated. There`s a feeling of improvisation through the movie. Mironov is like a flying comet, you almost see the sparks.The humor is so powerful that gets tears rolling, but I`m afraid only for those who are acquainted with Russian history and can understand the situations. I`m not at all sure that any translation could bring this across cultural boundaries. It should be watched in Russian and with good prior knowledge. Ten out of ten and it flows over that ! P.S. Previous, older version of "12 chairs" is not even comparable with this masterpiece.

Hamlet (1964)

Perfection

[10/10 · 5 January 2004]

Film is like a poem - nothing can be added, nothing can be taken away. Black and white shades only add to the graphic drama. Acting is as powerful as a storm on the high seas. I strongly recommend also "King Lire", also in black and white and in the same "Olympic" quality. Note! - not for the blockbuster lovers,movie is very artistic, it requires you to actually understand what is being said.