Lyubov Rumyantseva Movies

In this Russian comedy, a family leaves Russia to find a new life in the New World at the turn-of-the-century. The film chronicles their journey. It is based on a story by Sholom Aleichem and is told from the viewpoint of an 11-year old boy, Motl, whose father, a choirmaster, was killed. His mother has great hope as she uproots her family to head for the New World. They endure a lively train ride, and are then held in a border town. The family must wait while the authorities argue their fate. While waiting Motl gets involved in some strange meetings, including one with a "shtetl witch." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this satiric comedy produced in the Soviet Union, a travelling puppeteer finds himself incurring the wrath of a cardinal of the Catholic Church in 16th century Europe. Desperate to avoid torture for his crimes, the puppet master comes up with a plan -- he'll pose as Jesus Christ and present himself to the less educated peasants of the region, urging them to turn away from their growing revolt against the Church and its authority. The cardinal likes the idea, but in practice the scheme takes a few unexpected turns; the puppeteer-turned-savior starts staging "miracles," and his new legion of followers begin wandering the countryside in an increasingly anarchic state, enjoying the fruit of the vine and introducing the concept of physical love to a convent of curious nuns. Director Vladimir Bychkov was forced to put Zhitiye I Vozneseniye Yurasya Bratchika through twelve rounds of editing before state censors would permit it to receive even a limited release in 1968; the film was later banned, though it received an enthusiastic revival at a retrospective of Soviet cinema presented at the 2000 Locarno Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide