Russian film recommendations
April 18, 2007 10:35 PM Subscribe
Russian film recommendations
I've recently seen a few Russian films (The Lover & Playing a Victim) and want to see more, but the recommendations I find are mostly for the classics. Does anyone have recommendations for modern films? (from about 1995-present, of any genre)
I've recently seen a few Russian films (The Lover & Playing a Victim) and want to see more, but the recommendations I find are mostly for the classics. Does anyone have recommendations for modern films? (from about 1995-present, of any genre)
These come immediately to mind:
The Thief (ot Vor)
Burnt by the Sun
Russian Ark (I also love The Sun, by the same director but it's not in Russian)
Also, for the classics, if you haven't seen October (ot Oktyabr or Ten Days That Shook the World), you should.
posted by dobbs at 11:28 PM on April 18, 2007
The Thief (ot Vor)
Burnt by the Sun
Russian Ark (I also love The Sun, by the same director but it's not in Russian)
Also, for the classics, if you haven't seen October (ot Oktyabr or Ten Days That Shook the World), you should.
posted by dobbs at 11:28 PM on April 18, 2007
Kin Dza Dza! Russian Sci-Fi at its finest.
Part One
Part Two
posted by DarkElf109 at 11:31 PM on April 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
Part One
Part Two
posted by DarkElf109 at 11:31 PM on April 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
If you watch this, please let me know how it was. I have only seen the Clooney version in 2002.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 11:36 PM on April 18, 2007
posted by YoBananaBoy at 11:36 PM on April 18, 2007
Seconding dobbs for Burnt by the Sun: absolutely brilliant film.
posted by hydatius at 11:39 PM on April 18, 2007
posted by hydatius at 11:39 PM on April 18, 2007
If you're willing to go back to the 70s/80s, other films by the director of YoBananaBoy's suggestion should be on your list: Stalker, Nostalghia, The Mirror, The Sacrifice, My Name Is Ivan (aka Ivan's Childhood), and Andrei Rublev are all classics.
posted by dobbs at 11:40 PM on April 18, 2007
posted by dobbs at 11:40 PM on April 18, 2007
Kin Dza Dza!
*runs downstairs to make popcorn*
caught the first five minutes. im in for the ride.
posted by phaedon at 11:55 PM on April 18, 2007
*runs downstairs to make popcorn*
caught the first five minutes. im in for the ride.
posted by phaedon at 11:55 PM on April 18, 2007
nthing Burnt by the Sun; Nikita Mikhalkov is currently wrapping a sequel. Another strong recommend: Mikhalkov's period piece A Slave of Love (1976), with the wonderful Elena Solovei.
posted by rob511 at 12:35 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by rob511 at 12:35 AM on April 19, 2007
All of dobbs' recommendations seconded.
Try the film Brat (Brother). The first one is a really grim and well-drawn portrait of the reality of mid-90s Russia, specifically St. Petersburg. The sequel is set in NYC...it's good for some laughs, and the soundtrack.
Also try Mikhalkov's Barber of Siberia; it's somewhat fluffy, but it's a good example of what a skilled director used to working with small budgets can do with a huge one. I think it's quite good.
posted by nasreddin at 1:02 AM on April 19, 2007
Try the film Brat (Brother). The first one is a really grim and well-drawn portrait of the reality of mid-90s Russia, specifically St. Petersburg. The sequel is set in NYC...it's good for some laughs, and the soundtrack.
Also try Mikhalkov's Barber of Siberia; it's somewhat fluffy, but it's a good example of what a skilled director used to working with small budgets can do with a huge one. I think it's quite good.
posted by nasreddin at 1:02 AM on April 19, 2007
seconding Tenuki's suggestion of The Return - an engrossing film.
posted by patricio at 2:18 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by patricio at 2:18 AM on April 19, 2007
I'd second watching The Return. Absolutely beautiful film with a very, very cold heart at its core.
I seriously recommend Solaris even though it's from 1972.
It's not for everyone, but I see it being on par with 2001. It's heavy going and there is not much actually said throughout, but it made a lasting impression on me.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:35 AM on April 19, 2007
I seriously recommend Solaris even though it's from 1972.
It's not for everyone, but I see it being on par with 2001. It's heavy going and there is not much actually said throughout, but it made a lasting impression on me.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:35 AM on April 19, 2007
The Cuckoo and Peculiarities of the National Fishing are both lighter than some of the things listed above.
The Return is haunting - be sure to watch the extras.
Watch Tarkovsky alone or with someone who can keep their mouth shut. I've tried watching his films with impatient people and they ruin it for me every time. Stalker is my favorite.
posted by loosemouth at 4:04 AM on April 19, 2007
The Return is haunting - be sure to watch the extras.
Watch Tarkovsky alone or with someone who can keep their mouth shut. I've tried watching his films with impatient people and they ruin it for me every time. Stalker is my favorite.
posted by loosemouth at 4:04 AM on April 19, 2007
Yes, Tarkovsky is fabulous.
Russian Ark was really entertaining.
posted by OmieWise at 5:12 AM on April 19, 2007
Russian Ark was really entertaining.
posted by OmieWise at 5:12 AM on April 19, 2007
I found the audio commentary to Solaris (Criterion issue) enlightening on filmaking in the USSR. Old, as slimepuppy mentions, but if you're into that stuff...
posted by sexymofo at 5:21 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by sexymofo at 5:21 AM on April 19, 2007
"Gospodin oformitel" (Mr. Designer) is stunning.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157713/usercomments
Here it is an except from the review:
"The movie perfectly conveys the atmosphere of Russian Decadence, the cultural phenomenon, which is also called "The Silver Age" of Russian culture. It was a period since approx. 1905 till the beginning of WW1 in 1914. To understand what it was you must have a cultural experience of being a Russian. You have to feel its beautiful enigmatic spirit in poetry, prose, music and painting of that era, penetrated with troubled anticipation of great changes to come. Having seen this film, you will be haunted by this atmosphere"
And terrific soundtrack!
posted by ivanka at 6:23 AM on April 19, 2007
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157713/usercomments
Here it is an except from the review:
"The movie perfectly conveys the atmosphere of Russian Decadence, the cultural phenomenon, which is also called "The Silver Age" of Russian culture. It was a period since approx. 1905 till the beginning of WW1 in 1914. To understand what it was you must have a cultural experience of being a Russian. You have to feel its beautiful enigmatic spirit in poetry, prose, music and painting of that era, penetrated with troubled anticipation of great changes to come. Having seen this film, you will be haunted by this atmosphere"
And terrific soundtrack!
posted by ivanka at 6:23 AM on April 19, 2007
I had some professors that really liked Brat and Brat 2, shows sort of a new Russian nationalism; number 2 has some ridiculous caricatures of Americans, too. I'll second Malenkaya Vera and add Taxi Blues, which won some sort of accolade at Cannes in 1991 or whenever it came out. A documentary of that era, Tak Zhit' Nelzya, is fascinating, too. Sort of a realist chernukha film, showing the filmmaker's disappointment in the new generation's disrespect for the old ways and which also includes about a half hour of footage of NYC policework as filtered through late '80s conservative Russian perspective contrasted with a contemporaneous Russian murder investigation in a small village. That may not be available in English translation, though...
You might also look into Russian television serials. I've only seen a few episodes, but Brigada is pretty good. About some friends trying to find their place in contemporary Russia and turning to a life of crime. My university library had copies of it on DVD, so it can be had relatively easily. Bednaya Nastya is a really long serial (probably 200 hour-long episodes) made a couple years ago; sort of a soap opera set in imperial Russia; not really my thing, but it might be yours. While you're at it, see if you can find copies of the Russian Winne the Pooh and Jungle Book; they're old and very different from Disney and beautifully animated in strange ways.
Also, surprised no one has mentioned Oligarch or Luna Park, both of which I really liked.
There's a new Master and Margarita movie, too; haven't seen it, but would very much like to.
Feel like I'm missing a ton, but that'll get you started.
posted by msbrauer at 6:35 AM on April 19, 2007
You might also look into Russian television serials. I've only seen a few episodes, but Brigada is pretty good. About some friends trying to find their place in contemporary Russia and turning to a life of crime. My university library had copies of it on DVD, so it can be had relatively easily. Bednaya Nastya is a really long serial (probably 200 hour-long episodes) made a couple years ago; sort of a soap opera set in imperial Russia; not really my thing, but it might be yours. While you're at it, see if you can find copies of the Russian Winne the Pooh and Jungle Book; they're old and very different from Disney and beautifully animated in strange ways.
Also, surprised no one has mentioned Oligarch or Luna Park, both of which I really liked.
There's a new Master and Margarita movie, too; haven't seen it, but would very much like to.
Feel like I'm missing a ton, but that'll get you started.
posted by msbrauer at 6:35 AM on April 19, 2007
Seconding Nightwatch. Daywatch is so far available only in Russian, as far as I can tell.
The novels they were made from are also really good. I hesitate to say either is "better" - rather, the book just tells more of the story.
posted by whatzit at 6:53 AM on April 19, 2007
The novels they were made from are also really good. I hesitate to say either is "better" - rather, the book just tells more of the story.
posted by whatzit at 6:53 AM on April 19, 2007
It's from 1989, but Freeze Die Come To Life is worth a look.
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:31 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:31 AM on April 19, 2007
Prisoner of the Mountains.
posted by Comrade_robot at 7:50 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by Comrade_robot at 7:50 AM on April 19, 2007
Come and See (1985) is before your time frame. A outstandingly good and extremely moving film that you will not forget.
posted by Dr.Pill at 7:57 AM on April 19, 2007
posted by Dr.Pill at 7:57 AM on April 19, 2007
Come and See is supposed to be awesome.. haven't seen it.
These are WAY out of your time range, but someone has to mention Brilliantovaya ruka (Diamond Arm) 1968, and Ivan Vasilevich menyaet professiyu (ivan vasilevich: back to the future) 1973. (both goofy comedies)
You'll have a hard time finding a russian that hasn't seen these many many times, and they're often quoted in regular conversation (so I hear).
posted by imaswinger at 8:44 AM on April 19, 2007
These are WAY out of your time range, but someone has to mention Brilliantovaya ruka (Diamond Arm) 1968, and Ivan Vasilevich menyaet professiyu (ivan vasilevich: back to the future) 1973. (both goofy comedies)
You'll have a hard time finding a russian that hasn't seen these many many times, and they're often quoted in regular conversation (so I hear).
posted by imaswinger at 8:44 AM on April 19, 2007
I second the vote for Solyaris (Solaris) - it's amazing.
Also, has anyone yet mentioned Battleship Potemkin? It's a cinematic masterpiece.
posted by mike0221 at 8:46 AM on April 19, 2007
Also, has anyone yet mentioned Battleship Potemkin? It's a cinematic masterpiece.
posted by mike0221 at 8:46 AM on April 19, 2007
I would have expected Tarkovsky's Solaris to be the first film on the list here, so I feel a need to emphasize what a classic it is. I have not seen Stalker but got the impression in this that it's something of a contra point...
I also found Night Watch really enjoyable (they did a great job with the subtitles actually fitting nicely into the film, too). It really managed to have that Russian sensibility, of drawing mythology and drama in in a way that was serious even when it was self-consciously not serious. An American movie with this story would probably have just been silly, but these guys found a mood that really worked.
posted by mdn at 10:02 AM on April 19, 2007
I also found Night Watch really enjoyable (they did a great job with the subtitles actually fitting nicely into the film, too). It really managed to have that Russian sensibility, of drawing mythology and drama in in a way that was serious even when it was self-consciously not serious. An American movie with this story would probably have just been silly, but these guys found a mood that really worked.
posted by mdn at 10:02 AM on April 19, 2007
I heartily second the recommendations for Tarkovsky (even though it's prior to the requested period) and Russian Ark.
You'll have a hard time finding a russian that hasn't seen these many many times, and they're often quoted in regular conversation
Well, if we're going to go there, let's not omit Irony of Fate, which is very funny and constantly quoted (and watched by everyone on New Year's Eve).
has anyone yet mentioned Battleship Potemkin? It's a cinematic masterpiece.
Did you read the question? Here, let me excerpt and highlight to make it easier:
the recommendations I find are mostly for the classics. Does anyone have recommendations for modern films? (from about 1995-present, of any genre)
posted by languagehat at 11:30 AM on April 19, 2007
You'll have a hard time finding a russian that hasn't seen these many many times, and they're often quoted in regular conversation
Well, if we're going to go there, let's not omit Irony of Fate, which is very funny and constantly quoted (and watched by everyone on New Year's Eve).
has anyone yet mentioned Battleship Potemkin? It's a cinematic masterpiece.
Did you read the question? Here, let me excerpt and highlight to make it easier:
the recommendations I find are mostly for the classics. Does anyone have recommendations for modern films? (from about 1995-present, of any genre)
posted by languagehat at 11:30 AM on April 19, 2007
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posted by nightchrome at 11:00 PM on April 18, 2007