Vladimir Zamansky Movies
Life in the Russian military is observed in this almost surreal Russian drama that contains strong anti-war sentiments. The film's main theme suggests that we as humans do not have as much control over the course of our lives as we think we do. It is filmed without a plot and minimal dialog. Instead it offers a poetic depiction of brief, unexplained incidents in the soldiers' lives. The audience sees neither the beginning, nor the end of the episode. The purpose is not to explore the men themselves, but rather to evoke a mood of despair and impending doom. To get the film produced, filmmakers Hussein Erkenov, Yuri Polyakov, and Vladimir Golodov had to create two fake scripts in addition to the real one. The film was actually made in 1990; it could not be internationally released until Erkenov could afford to create his own company. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, Vladimir Zamansky, (more)
- 1987
American audiences generally expect the films they see to be simply entertaining, whatever other good qualities they may have. Russian audiences and filmmakers are more diverse in their expectations, so that sometimes a film can be made (and seen) purely to advance the cause of art. Skorbnoye Beschuvstviye is such a film, made by Alexander Sokurov who routinely requires his viewers to appreciate his skillful use of imagery and symbolism, rather than his storytelling. He is considered to be one of the more significant young Russian directors, and his films frequently create quite a stir. The action in this lavishly produced film takes place at an oddly ark-shaped mansion during World War I, and in spirit (although not in story) it reflects the play which inspired it, the ferociously antiwar Heartbreak House by George Bernard Shaw. A large group of family and friends have gathered at this country house to dance, drink, and converse. Their conversation, in particular, is adorned with erudite literary references and quotations. Despite their apparent refinement, their preoccupations are simple: sex and violence. Disquieting images break the tranquility of the vacationers' inappropriate idyll: some of these include documentary footage of starving African children, images (both real and re-enacted) of George Bernard Shaw going about his daily life, and a corpse coming to life on an autopsy table, only to cheapen that miracle by scolding a group of women. The music used in the film ironically points to its disturbing message and is uniformly anachronistic. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ramaz Chkhikvadze, Alla Osipenko, (more)
- 1987
The students and teachers of a small-town school are changed forever as the storm clouds of World War II gather on the horizon in this tragic drama. As the Russian people attempt to resist the fascist oppression of Stalin, a daughter commits suicide rather than betray her father by testifying against him. With political restrictions in the Soviet Union being gradually lifted in the 1980s, this was one of the first films to mention the previously taboo subject of the nighttime raids by the KGB, in which innocent people were dragged from their homes and jailed. Over 13 million people saw this feature in the USSR alone. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sergei Nikonenko, Nina Ruslanova, (more)
- 1984
Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Yuri Bondarev, this romantic drama starts at the close of World War II near Hamburg, where Nikitin (Boris Shcherbakov), a lieutenant in the Soviet army, is temporarily stationed. Nikitin meets a German teenager named Emma (Natalya Belochvostikova), and the two have a brief, intense affair before he has to leave for home. Many years later, Nikitin is visiting Hamburg by invitation of his German publisher -- where he meets Emma once more because she has been asked to translate for him. The old flame flares up again as the now-married, ex-lovers reminisce about the past without indulging their feelings. In reality, more emotion is invested on the war than on the love between the protagonists, causing romantic passion to be detoured, if not derailed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Boris Shcherbakov, Natalya Belokhvostikova, (more)
- 1976
After an obligatory tour in the military, Nikolai happily returns to his wife and young daughter. However, he has been hearing stories which lead him to believe that his wife has been unfaithful. He tries to overlook these rumors, but cannot ignore the reality he is confronted with when he discovers her in bed with another man. Though he loves her deeply, he divorces her and remarries. Unhappy, he cannot forget his first love, and suspects she is the only one he will ever truly love. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yelena Proklova, Valery Zolotukhin, (more)
