Yuri Dubrovin Movies
Pyotr Lutsik's first film Okraina is an allegorical piece that contemplates capitalism run wild, as well as the increasing Westernization of contemporary Russian filmmaking. The title is taken from the classic 1933 film by the Soviet filmmaker Boris Barnet, in which the beginning of the farm collectivization era is depicted. In Pyotr Lutsik's version, the hero is an ordinary farmer, Philip Safronov, whose peaceful life is aggressively interrupted when his land is appropriated by a mysterious group to exploit its oil resources. The toughest farmers unite and track down the offenders one by one. The murderous path they leave behind them culminates in the film's apocalyptic finale. The director's style is minimalist, with heavy use of symbols. The humor is very bitter. The use of black and white and orchestral music from 1930's Soviet films gives a nostalgic aura without obstructing the impact of the main theme of the film, which seems to be "regimes come and go, but exploitation of the poor remains." Okraina was screened as part of the International Forum of New Cinema section of the 49th Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yuri Dubrovin, Nikolai Olyalin, (more)
- 1994
A satirical look at Stalinism and Soviet bureaucracy, the movie is based upon a previously banned Russian novel by Vladimir Voinovich. Ivan Chonkin, an uncomplicated man with a taste for sex, is a soldier assigned to guard a broken down airplane in Red, a tiny rural village. Unbeknownst to him, World War II has erupted and his superior officers have forgotten about him. Chonkin enrages the neighbors when he moves into the home of his lover Nyura, the town postal clerk. To get revenge, the neighbors send an anonymous letter to the secret police accusing Ivan of being a spy. The dreaded NKVD immediately go the remote village to arrest Ivan, but he refuses to leave his post without direct orders from his general. In the end, Ivan Chonkin triumphs over both the secret police and the Soviet army. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gennady Nazarov, Zoya Buryak, (more)
- 1988
Koval (Nikolai Karachesnov) is a television reporter who interviews an unwed mother in this satirical political comedy. Nina (Tatiana Mikhalevkina) is a woman about to give birth to the one millionth resident, which would place the city in a more lucrative position to receive more government money. After the publicized interview, Koval learns of Nina's emotional instability as the city prepares to celebrate the birth of her baby. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nikolai Karachentsov, Tatiana Mikhalevkina, (more)
- 1983
Director Sergei Mikaelyan, known for his 1974 release Premium, takes a look this time at how romance can blossom between the most unlikely people. Oleg (Oleg Yankovsky) is a handsome factory worker with a relentlessly boring job that leads him to spend a lot of time socializing with his buddies and drinking. Vera (Yevgenia Glushenko) is a plain-looking librarian from a physically unattractive family who has never been able to develop a romantic liaison with anyone. When she meets Oleg, she tries to get him interested in books; she wants him to see his life differently, to appreciate his work and maybe not drink so much. At first Oleg shuns her, but in the end she prevails, and he begins to see himself and her in an entirely new light. For her role as Vera in this easy-going romantic story, Yevgenia Glushenko won the "Best Actress" award at the 1983 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oleg Yankovsky, Yevgenya Glushenko, (more)
