Irina Metlitskaya Movies
- 1994
A religious parable lies quietly with in this Russian homoerotic tale that sends messages promoting mercy and faith. Andrei wonders if his life is going anywhere. He is in a dead-end job at a design firm and his marital problems with wife Nina seem unresolvable. Andrei's sexuality is questioned after he publicly rescues a young man being beaten up by gay-bashers. Andrei meets Philip, a mysterious stranger, who comes to his office with an important project. Philip projects a supernatural/sexual energy that disconcerts Andrei. He is further confused after Philip announces that he is Andrei's patron saint during a one day trip. Philip explains that he is the reincarnation of an ancient savior. Terrified and confused, Andrei runs away from Philip. Later in his apartment, Philip kisses Andrei's arm, wounded from the scuffle with the gay bashers, and the arm is suddenly healed. Eventually Philip disappears as mysteriously as he came leaving Andrei to wander about pondering it all. He also leaves a gift for Andrei and Nina. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Saulius Balandis, Sergei Vinogradov, (more)
- 1994
This provocative Russian drama provides a disturbing examination of the post revolutionary values and philosophies of the country as a poet must decide which has more importance: his poetry, or his gun? The film's title has a double meaning. Makarov is the protagonist's name, but is it is also the name of a powerful Russian handgun. Makarov, the main character, is a poet suffering from writer's block. On his way home one night he encounters a black market arms dealer who asks if he'd like to buy a Makarov. The poet pays all of the money he received from his latest poetry volume, 10,000 rubles for the gun. He must now conceal the gun from his family. At home his wife reads him a poem about a bullet. Makarov hides the gun. Throughout the film, other characters continue to recite poems about guns, and this causes Makarov to look deeply at his values. Eventually the gun wins. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sergei Makovetsky, Jelena Majorova, (more)
- 1992
This entertaining satire by director Luigi Zampa, known for his comedic touch, is set in the years before World War II when fascism was on the rise in Italy. Taking up the theme found in Nikolai Gogol's well-known comedy of mistaken identity The Inspector General, this tale has a simple insurance salesman being mistaken for a bigshot fascist arriving in a small town to check out its political leanings. Naturally, the townsfolk react according to who they think he is. That reaction varies depending on whether they happen to be connected to the opposition, or just want to keep their jobs and stay on top of things, as in the case of the mayor. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Denis Karasev, Yelena Shevchenko, (more)
- 1988
In this drama Svetlana Zasypina plays a sixteen year old girl who has been a star in the Russian national gymnastics program since she was barely six years old. Now that injuries have prevented her from competing again, she is relegated to the tender mercies of the ordinary school system, where she's nobody special. She has a tremendous ego problem, and despite her small size, attempts to bully and lead her classmates, and is very difficult with her teachers. Elena is one of this obstreperous girl's teachers, and she is more than willing to try and outwit her and help her learn to be a human among humans. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Svetlana Zasypkina, Irina Metlitskaya, (more)
