Yelena Korikova Movies
- 1999
In Mumu, Lyudmilla Maksakova plays Mistress, a wealthy landlady in 19th Century Russia who has a large population of serfs in her grasp -- and she happens to enjoy squeezing them every once in a while. She's always searching for new ways to emotionally manipulate her underlings, her favorite having herself pronounced dead so she can see how people would react to her passing (she's tried this more than once). Into this picture comes Gerasimo (Alexander Baluev), a bearded mountain of a man who happens to be mute. Most men regard him as a simpleton and toy with him (which they usually come to regret), while women are often charmed by his gentle yet masculine nature. Gerasimo soon finds himself in the first stages of romance with a lovely blonde serf and adopts a small dog, which he names Mumu (one of the only sounds he can make). However, Mistress is not happy with either of these developments and puts a stop to both -- which earns her Gerasimo's wrath. Based on a story by Ivan Turgenev, this historical drama ironically became the first Russian film to have its own promotional website (mumu.park.ru). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lyudmila Maksakova, Alexander Baluev, (more)
- 1997
- R
Since the redawning of capitalism in former Soviet nations, corruption has replaced bureaucracy as the chief means of controlling the masses, thereby making it difficult for honest people to earn a living. This is certainly true in the Ukrainian city of Kiev, the hometown of luckless Anatoli (Alexander Lazarev, Jr.). While he has a job as a translator, the pay is insufficient and he tries hard to find a new job. A rather serious but disorganized intellectual, he finds it difficult to adjust to the me-first, money-grubbing ways of the "new Ukrainians." The craziness of it all deeply depresses and confuses Anatoli. Matters are worsened when his unloving wife abandons him for another. One day he runs into an old friend who upon hearing Anatoli's sad tale, convinces Anatoli to hire an assassin to kill his wife's lover. Anatoli reluctantly hires one of Kiev's many professional killers, but gives the man a picture of himself and makes plans for his own death, plans that go awry. Then Anatoli changes his mind. He must now find the killer before the killer finds him. This darkly funny story paints a caustic sociological portrait of modern Ukrainian urban life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexander Lazarev, Jr., Tatiana Krivitskaya, (more)
- 1994
In this film, director Sergei Solovyov provides a unique presentation of Chekhov's famous play. Rather than presenting the whole work, he opts to present only highlights from each scene. The photography, set designs, and sound-track of the film are notable. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yelena Korikova, Otto Sander, (more)
