Four Russian Movies
It's good to watch some movies occasionally without the glitz, consumerism and body counts that gimmicky modern American movies provide. Here are four movies that make you think. they are Russian.
Burnt By The Sun (1994)
set in the early 30's, an army general has returned to his family and his dacha for a vacation. but a visitor from the past returns, to take the general away for trumped up charges of espionage. in the meantime, there is much interaction between the characters. if you're into fimmaking, the movie is an awesome showcase for character development and dynamics. that's what makes it entertaining, really. it has the feel of a novella set into a motion picture. if you're in the mood for a good short book but don't have the patience to read, this movie is for you. in russian with subtitles.
The Red And The White (1968)
set in 1919, the Red Army (Russian bolsheviks and their Hungarian helpers) and the White Army (foreign counterrevolutionary forces) are at war. this movie isn't really a story; it's as if the director simply filmed parts of an afternoon in the war. there are no names, no plot, no character development. yet you do get a sense of introduction to the situation and finality at the end when some of those you saw more often than not are annhialated. I like this movie because the people in it are completely normal, and it's a refreshing contrast to wacky modern people. I'm strongly reminded of the old-style military values and sense of duty that my father had when he was a young man (and I was about 2' tall), but as far as I can tell, have been completely forgotten by everybody on the face of this earth. older folks might appreciate it. younger folks won't get it. if you would like to spend a lazy afternoon watching how a war was conducted back then (a nonevent by modern standards), this movie is for you. in russian and hungarian with subtitles.
Prisoner of the Mountains (1996)
set in Chechnya, two Russian soldiers are captured by Chechnyans. an old Chechnyan man decides to use them to bargain for the release of his son from a Russian prison. they try to escape. the action is cartoonish, the story progresses slowly, but that's ok, there are enough plot twists and changes of scenery. the film is about observing some Chechnyans and their countryside. in russian with subtitles.
Siberiade (1979)
This movie spans 5 generations, 4 parts and 2 DVD's. it concerns the people in a Siberian village, starting with an old man chopping down trees through the forest to make a road to he doesn't know where, and ending up with the destruction of their village by the Soviet government. Amazingly, it's interesting the whole way through. by the time you get to Part IV you're actually engrossed in the movie and the last 3 hours you spent watching the first 3 parts seems like nothing at all. following the characters, scenery and situations through the generations, it's hard to believe it's all the same movie. If you're in the mood for an epic worthy of Tolstoy but sure as hell don't feel like reading it all, this movie is for you. in russian with subtitles.
Burnt By The Sun (1994)
set in the early 30's, an army general has returned to his family and his dacha for a vacation. but a visitor from the past returns, to take the general away for trumped up charges of espionage. in the meantime, there is much interaction between the characters. if you're into fimmaking, the movie is an awesome showcase for character development and dynamics. that's what makes it entertaining, really. it has the feel of a novella set into a motion picture. if you're in the mood for a good short book but don't have the patience to read, this movie is for you. in russian with subtitles.
The Red And The White (1968)
set in 1919, the Red Army (Russian bolsheviks and their Hungarian helpers) and the White Army (foreign counterrevolutionary forces) are at war. this movie isn't really a story; it's as if the director simply filmed parts of an afternoon in the war. there are no names, no plot, no character development. yet you do get a sense of introduction to the situation and finality at the end when some of those you saw more often than not are annhialated. I like this movie because the people in it are completely normal, and it's a refreshing contrast to wacky modern people. I'm strongly reminded of the old-style military values and sense of duty that my father had when he was a young man (and I was about 2' tall), but as far as I can tell, have been completely forgotten by everybody on the face of this earth. older folks might appreciate it. younger folks won't get it. if you would like to spend a lazy afternoon watching how a war was conducted back then (a nonevent by modern standards), this movie is for you. in russian and hungarian with subtitles.
Prisoner of the Mountains (1996)
set in Chechnya, two Russian soldiers are captured by Chechnyans. an old Chechnyan man decides to use them to bargain for the release of his son from a Russian prison. they try to escape. the action is cartoonish, the story progresses slowly, but that's ok, there are enough plot twists and changes of scenery. the film is about observing some Chechnyans and their countryside. in russian with subtitles.
Siberiade (1979)
This movie spans 5 generations, 4 parts and 2 DVD's. it concerns the people in a Siberian village, starting with an old man chopping down trees through the forest to make a road to he doesn't know where, and ending up with the destruction of their village by the Soviet government. Amazingly, it's interesting the whole way through. by the time you get to Part IV you're actually engrossed in the movie and the last 3 hours you spent watching the first 3 parts seems like nothing at all. following the characters, scenery and situations through the generations, it's hard to believe it's all the same movie. If you're in the mood for an epic worthy of Tolstoy but sure as hell don't feel like reading it all, this movie is for you. in russian with subtitles.
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personally I am a fan of "the peruliarities of the national hunt/fishing"
I have watched "Burnt by the Sun" and it is indeed a good movie0
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