Alexander Abdulov Movies

A woman looking for new love may have found it where she least expects in this comedy. Anna Pavlova (Evgenia Dobrovolskaya) is a veteran actress whose personal life and career have both seen better days; her marriage is clearly on its last legs, and her current role is an unchallenging supporting part in a second-rate stage production. Despite all this Anna has been able to hold on to her sharp sense of humor, and her quick wit makes her a favorite among her colleagues, including a member of the stage crew (Alexander Abdulov) with whom she's been having an on-and-off affair. Anna spends most of her free time with her good friend Musya (Maria Aronova), and one evening as they go out for dinner they're joined by Vikentiy (Yuri Stepanov), who had been friends with Musya's husband since college. Vikentiy is a chubby scientist doing research on parasites, and Anna initially finds him amusing and little more, but her quick wit and mature good looks have a powerful effect on him, and by the end of the evening he's fallen in love with her. Artiska (aka Actress) received its American debut at the 2007 New York Russian Film Week Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The trials of a Russian who immigrates to Israel are explored in this Israeli drama. Valery Ostrovsky, an award-winning, egotistical Russian actor, and his family have high hopes when they move to Israel. They are soon disillusioned by its realities. The lifestyle is much lower than what they are accustomed to as they must initially live in a cheap trailer in a desolate neighborhood surrounded by other outsiders. Valery also quickly finds the demand for famous Russian actors is non-existent. He does try to learn Hebrew, with the assistance of Michael, his son's lovely teacher. They quickly become involved. Michael also becomes involved as a friend to Valery's wife Jana. Valery's travails continue as he tries to adjust to his new life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this somewhat opaque film, representative a Russian cinematic genre which could be called "existential drama," the story of a charming man who failed to live up to his own expectations, and whose life consequently also failed, is told by his son. This film contains many references to the works of director Marlen Khutsiyev and to his long-suppressed film July Rain. In the story, Lev (Alexander Abdulov) is the premier charmer of a small social group in Leningrad. As it opens, he has taken a dare that, if he will swim the Neva River, he will bed the lovely Lena (Kseniya Kachalina). He swims the river, and wins the dare. Later, when a member of the group is picked up by the secret police, Lev disappears for a while, apparently guilt-striken at having betrayed a friend. Eventually, he dives into the Neva once more: it is not clear whether he intends to commit suicide, or this is an allegorical image to indicate that he has passed out of the story. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide