Aristarkh Livanov Movies
- 1991
Reviewers considered this film to be more of a collection of raw material for a more tightly crafted film than a film in itself. It consists of footage shot by the Russian dissident (now an Israeli citizen) Moisei Kalik before 1971, when he left Russia, as well as more recent material. It combines autobiographical material with commentary on Russian history and clips covering the evolution of Russian cinema. The autobiographical material starts by showing a rebellious boy who is eventually exiled to one of the gulags. When he is freed, he enters a state-run cinematography school. There again, his rebelliousness and insistence on speaking the truth get him into trouble. The director's own story is broken up with newreel footage, clips from his films, and clips from Russian classics. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alla Balter, Borislav Brondukov, (more)
- 1990
In the new Russia, everyone is seeking "hard" currency -- that is to say, cash in a form that is reliably worth something, instead of rubles which cannot easily be used overseas. In this film, a pimp who is reputed to have a large supply of that kind of money gets kidnapped. However, in this action movie, more than one underworld group wants that cash, so plots and counterplots meet up with betrayals and untrustworthy alliances while the pimp, no good guy himself, seeks his freedom. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrei Sokolov, Igor Volkov, (more)
- 1986
Bolshoi Ballet star Ekaterina Maximova makes her film acting debut in the Russian Fouette. She portrays an ageing dancer who struggles to cope with the physical and emotional changes in her life. Believing that the only way to survive is to take on new challenges, Maximova insists upon staging an experimental ballet based on Faust. Turning a deaf ear to her possessive husband and the ultraconservative ballet committee, Maximova successfully performs the ballet, symbolically declaring her new-found joie de vivre. Described by some critics as Russia's The Turning Point, Fouette may not be easy to locate in mainstream video stores, but ballet devotees owe themselves this rare treat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ekaterina Maksimova, Vladimir Vasilyev, (more)
