Russian movies- where are the bad ones?

Posted by Bambi B on April 17, 2003 at 14:52:59

In Reply to: What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? posted by Dmitry on April 17, 2003 at 10:21:13:

Dmitry,

Russian movies have a very good record with me- posibly because only those with more international appeal reach the UK and US, but I like the kind of "solidity" of vision that I see in Russian film. There is a an absence of frivolity in technique and un-self-conscious direction that focusses on the story and image. I think of it as a kind of general "quietness." Of course, there is never the commercial pandering that a higher and higher proportion of American studio movies are forced to include.

Memorable: any of Eisenstein, most all- "The Battleship Potemkin", which is visually so stunning. The baby carriage buming down the Odessa steps is so famous, it was imitated in "The Untouchables" and parodied in "The Simpson's" cartoon. Of couse, "Ivan the Terrible" with the incredible battles- on ice even- and music by Prokofiev. The very strange use of colour for a few scenes within the black and white is better than "the Wizard of Oz". Tarkovsky: "Solaris"- which has a quiet, poetic intensity not approached by the recent new adapation, and "Andrei Rublev"- which is a wonderful study of the relationship of art to life.

We had a very nice 7-8 film Tarkovsky festival at an art cinema about two months ago, so there is a freshened exposure.

Recommendations are of course, very welcome! Actually, I have long been interested in the possibility of Russian comedies- do these exist and could English subtitles communicate it? I really have no concept of Russian humour.

My aunt lived in Leningrad 1985-89 and did not have many humourous stories to communicate.

Also, what do think is the best movie about Rasputin?

Cheers,

Bambi B

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - What Russian movies have you seen and liked/disliked? - Dmitry 10:21:13 04/17/03 (15)

Tarkovsky, The One and Only - jweiss 21:35:48 05/22/03 (0)

Alexander Nevsky, Battleship Potamkin. Liked both, even though they are propaganda flicks -t - The Killer Piglet 09:26:40 04/18/03 (0)

ALEXANDER NEVSKY needs to be remade......... - j.l.guillebeau@att.net 05:26:23 04/18/03 (0)

That's Ok, Victor, you can play too. - Dmitry 21:31:41 04/17/03 (0)

Dr. Zhivago was good . . . . - albee33 19:20:40 04/17/03 (0)

I thought Tarkovsky's - tinear 17:28:31 04/17/03 (0)

Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Bambi B 14:52:59 04/17/03 (8)

Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Dmitry 16:53:36 04/17/03 (7)

Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Victor Khomenko 07:01:59 04/20/03 (0)

Russian movies- thanks! - Bambi B 22:34:37 04/18/03 (1)

Re: Russian movies- thanks! - Dmitry 08:26:02 04/19/03 (0)

Black and White road movie... - gware 21:18:36 04/17/03 (3)

THE BALLAD OF A SOLDIER - Dmitry 21:30:11 04/17/03 (2)

Thanks Dmitry! - gware 23:10:23 04/17/03 (1)

It is available on Criterion DVD - DA 09:35:40 04/18/03 (0)

Follow Ups

Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Bambi B 14:52:59 04/17/03 (8)

Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Dmitry 16:53:36 04/17/03 (7)

Re: Russian movies- where are the bad ones? - Victor Khomenko 07:01:59 04/20/03 (0)

Russian movies- thanks! - Bambi B 22:34:37 04/18/03 (1)

Re: Russian movies- thanks! - Dmitry 08:26:02 04/19/03 (0)

Black and White road movie... - gware 21:18:36 04/17/03 (3)

THE BALLAD OF A SOLDIER - Dmitry 21:30:11 04/17/03 (2)

Thanks Dmitry! - gware 23:10:23 04/17/03 (1)

It is available on Criterion DVD - DA 09:35:40 04/18/03 (0)

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