Semyon Aranovich Movies
- 1994
Two disparate people come together in this odd-ball Russian-French black comedy. Seryozha, an ex-convict and Vera, a middle-aged introvert, come together after he steals her purse. They end up on the lam after Seryozha stabs a hostel worker. They end up in an empty village and soon discovered they are in the midst of an area contaminated by radiation. Three bandits also come through and Seryozha puts them into the village hoosegow and proceeds to torture them. When they become allies, he releases them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Inna Churikova, Igor Sklyar, (more)
- 1991
Despite its rather incongruous title, this documentary is an examination of Josef Stalin's final years in power, when he accelerated his persecution against Jewish citizens of the U.S.S.R. Archival film clips, photographs, and personal accounts depict the reign of terror carried out during Stalin's regime. The program investigates the details of the murder of the great Russian actor Solomon Mikhoels, whose only crime was being Jewish. The anti-Semitism and paranoia of the communist leader is also recounted in a short film entitled Case of the Doctors. Stalin put many medical doctors in prison because he feared they would poison him. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
In lieu of the one-person autobiographical account suggested by the title, I Worked for Stalin plunges headfirst, into the web of power and intrigue present amid the six members of tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin's "innermost circle": Molotov, Suslov, Zhdanov, Malenkov, Khruschev, and Andreyev. Evincing dispassionate attention to detail, documentarian Semyon Aranovich dovetails archival footage and period eyewitness accounts to recount the men's power plays against one another as each wielded an unholy degree of influence over the fate of the populace. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
I Was Stalin's Bodyguard is not a mere cheapjack Hollywoodized "expose" but the genuine article, filmed by Russians for Russians. Director Semeon Aranovitch brilliantly blends rarely seen newsreel and documentary footage of the three-decade Stalin regime. The centerpiece is a long, fascinating interview with the last surviving personal bodyguard of the Soviet dictator. Also included are home movies of Stalin, his family and his inner circle. I Was Stalin's Bodyguard is neither blatantly pro- nor anti-Stalin; it offers the facts, then allows the viewer to make up his or her own mind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
Russian documentarian Semyon Aranovich uses the diaries of poetess Anna Akhmatova to tell her life story in this avant-garde documentary. Intuitive montages are shown to bring to life the religious imagery of the writer, whose work was banned by Stalin for almost two decades. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- 1985
This documentary chronicles the life of Soviet military genius Georgy Zhukov. Zhukov was the most important military commander in the Soviet Union during World War II. He began his military career as one of the Cossacks, in the units that Stalin created in 1934 to fight against the Germans. Marshal Zhukov led the Soviet troops against Hitler and the Japanese and became commander of the Soviet occupation forces in Germany after the war ended. He is also credited with removing Beria, who was deemed Stalin's successor, thus saving his land from more purges. Archival clips and personal accounts tell the story of this great Soviet commander. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi
Director Semyon Aranovich combines historical combat footage with a mix of black and white and murky color to create a fairly seamless narration about specific Soviet soldiers in the Baltics in 1944 and the women they meet and/or lose. War takes its toll on the one hand as buddies are killed in action -- demonstrated in the deliberate kamikaze dive of a damaged Russian plane into a German warship. On the other hand, personal relationships are themselves often tragic. Just after Bebolrov is wounded, he finds out his wife has a lover, just after Gavrilov joyfully meets his son, he begins to doubt the little boy is his, and just after Cherepovets starts a romantic liaison with Maria, she is killed by an act of war. Life offers no assurances, not even for a short while, and even in the face of these and other hardships, the soldiers will soon have to go into battle again. A poignant review of faces at the end of these travails reveals just how many did not survive. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rodion Nakhapetov, Alexei Zharkov, (more)
- 1981
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Dimitri Shostakovich: Sonata for Viola documents the career of the man considered by many to be the finest composer of the 20th century. The film offers a wealth of performance footage as well as images of personal appearances by the man. In order to protect this documentary from the KGB who wanted it destroyed, the negative was buried for many years. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 1978
A group of young boys travel to a remote Arctic Ocean island to collect bird eggs in this wartime documentary-styled drama. When the island is attacked by Nazi planes, the resourceful youths and a kind old sailor band together to fight them. A plane is shot down and a supply ship is torpedoed, and those who survive are soon brutally murdered. A few Nazi stragglers get to the island where the carefully gathered eggs are destroyed. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nikolai Skorobogatov, Anatoliy Gorin, (more)
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