Burnt by the Sun

So finally I see Burnt by the Sun. Well, it's not the happiest of movies I've seen, but it's Russian films we're dealing with so I expected so.

Kotov gave me an impression of a good man. He was wonderful with his daughter- still fresh in my mind is the scene when they are on the row boat just drifting down the river, very touching and shows how loving their relationship is, while displaying his feeling for the Motherland. Even from the beginning, it is shown that many others adore Kotov.

When his wife's childhood lover returns, I see him as this darkness that comes into the family. You see them all lovey dovey in the bathhouse as this perfect family and then this guy comes back into her life and brings up past memories (which are very inappropriate, like their first time having sex) and emotions; god, she tries to kill herself over him. Also, the fairytale story Mitya concocts is total bs, just to purposely set of Kotov and his wife.

The ending was terrible (I admit, I did get a little teary eyed). The fact that Kotov knew what was coming and still was able to go and even crack jokes was admirable. I didn't expect him to cry, although his love for his daughter was shown with the whistling of that song she would constantly sing. When Mitya kills himself, I was surprised....this sounds evil, but good riddance.

Oh yeah, I didn't know what to make of that reoccurring fireball, but all I know is that it always came at bad times... I still have no opinion??

Russian Ark

Even though this film was hard to follow, the costumes and the Winter Palace were amazing. I'm a sucker for old style clothing and was shocked at how many people were casted and even more extras were present- the work it must have taken by many make-up specialists and clothing designers to make this film work is astounding, they made it realistic.

For the most part, I treated Russian Ark as a piece of art. At first, it was challenging to not pick it apart and try to find hidden meanings and what not, but as I realized that wouldn't get me anywhere, I appreciated as it was and enjoyed finding historical figures throughout the shots- seeing Nicholas II's family depicted so happy and knowing how they came to a terrible end, was very sad for me (in my opinion, the Romanovs are so fascinating).

Aside from the costumes and many people, I found myself in awe of the architecture and artwork displayed in this film. I would love to see this for myself someday.

The Return

In this film, I noticed certain aspects similar to Tarkovsky, specifically Mirror. I saw many shots of nature, often paused on for a few moments. For instance, the last scene where it focuses on the ocean and pulls back to the forest (very similar to the last scene in Mirror). Also, in the beginning of the film, I found the shot of the burning coals to be reminiscent of this fascinating director.

Off that subject, I did find the boy's house to be very strange. To me, it seemed like a big warehouse from the exterior. The interior was extremely plain- like the movie, I mean, the reoccurring color being blue (all this water around- many times ocean or rain) and the only brightly colored object was the father's car.

Overall, the film gave me this creepy feel, partly because of the plainness and the constant questioning (the father also made me uneasy, I never knew what he was up to). From the beginning, you quite don't know what's going on even though the story is easy to follow. I found myself asking many questions throughout the boy's trip- who is this many really, where did he come from, and what the hell was in that box???!

Brother

When I first saw Danila in the beginning of the film, I never would have expected him to be so comfortable in murder. As he stated, he only served in the HQ as a clerk, but the way he performs the tasks given to him by his brother seem to be executed by someone with experience. As Danila familiarizes himself with St. Petersburg, I think some of the acts that may have been seen as violent are justified. For instance, the scene on the bus as the ticket collector makes his rounds. When Danila threatens the men who give him a hard time, I believe Danny was good in his intentions, but threatening someone with a gun is not my way to do it; Besides, Danila doesn’t kill anyone in the process. Also, when Danny first meets the German and knocks out the man who attempts to take all of his goods, I see this act as something similar to what Robin Hood stood for, protecting the poor. Even though Danila eventually morphs into a mobster (also someone who is able to kill easily), I don’t see him as an evil character, but as one who would protect the good.

I found Danila’s friendship with Cat to be a confusing one. It seems that he has not much of an interest in drugs and doesn’t appear to have that much fun at the party Cat brings him to; maybe he was curious now that he had money? She just seemed to be some dumb rocker chick hooked on drugs. I preferred the mature wife (who does save his life) over Cat any day.

I find the scene in which the high Danila speaks with the Frenchman about the terrible American techno music to be very amusing. (Although Cat thinks it so cool, I laughed at its few words and references to sex.) Speaking of America, Americans portrayed in this film appear dense. In the scene where two tourists ask Cat for directions, they find that speaking slowly and loudly might enhance their ability to be understood by those who obviously don’t speak English. (Duh)

Overall, this Russian version of a gangster movie was unlike any I’ve seen in the States. It was less violent, although it did have some, but not the kind of blood and gore that I’m used to. I did appreciate the modern music and found Danila’s quest for that Nautilus CD to be interesting. I wanted to know why it was so important, maybe something worth checking out?

Little Vera

Well, what can I say about this film? It had all the characteristics of an 80's teen flick that I've seen with sex, drugs, and even rock and roll. (but of course with a deeping meaning)

The aspect that most differed with the other movies up to this point was the fact that they actually showed sex -up close and personal. Even more, I can't say that I've seen characters try to commit suicide in the past films either. I also noticed that the film was not at all sugar coated. Vera's life was not a walk in the park; she had a dysfunctional family, didn't seem to be interested in college, and picked a pig for a husband. The apartment and city for that matter looked broken down and polluted. We also see alcoholism portrayed in a negative light- no more jokes about this topic. Vera's father obviously has a problem to the point where he feels justified in stabbing her fiance. It also seems like the family is constantly urging each other to drink- the scene where Vera's parents meet Sergei or when Vera and her mother are alone (the mom mentions rum in the fridge and to have a drink with her).

I also noticed that the youth in this film seemed bored and troubled. Right from the start, Vera appears to be this bad ass against her parents type (no one understands me). She seems to be immature for marriage and asks Sergei if he loves her right after they just met and had sex. Again, in the scene where the youth is dancing outdoors at some apparent hot spot, the guys don't have anything better to do than brawl. I don't know if I want to call the generation rebels, but what exactly are they rebelling against? The traditional ways? A country that is falling apart?

I see that Russia also had a problem in the 80's with bad music, clothes, and hair. :]
Thank god that period is over...

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears

Overall, I enjoyed the film. I could relate to the characters, which were believable and went through realistic problems throughout their lives.

From the beginning, I knew Katya was going to get into some sort of trouble because of Lyudmila's lies- who knew it would be a baby. Because of this, I didn't find Lyudmila to be a character all that interesting, although she was quite funny. The more she schemed and deceived, it was apparent that her marriage would not last, for it had been built originally on a foundation of lies. Why go through life looking for a rich husband to depend on? Others work hard and earn their living, while others merely act as parasitic insects. I'm an independent, very hard-working female and when I see other women just looking for a rich husband to settle with and not really work a day in their lives, it's infuriating!

Although I did admire Katya's independence and taking responsibility in raising a child alone, while working her way up to an executive director, I found Antonina's life to be the most rewarding in comparison with the other three women. She finds real love from the beginning, raising her children, and helps her husband in tending to the farm. (I'm all for women working their way up in life, but Antonina's humble, traditional, and simple life seems most full of happiness and love.)

I realize that this film was made during a different time far from what is accepted in society as we know it, but I found when Katya submits to Goga demanding that he be superior (the "man's" role) to be ridiculous. Katya should not have to give up her superior role in the family just so she can find love. She has lived most of her life being independent and hard working, raising a daughter without a father figure and just because she finds a man like no other who just strolls into her life, doesn't mean she has to throw that independence away. Relationships should be about equality, not stereotypical gender roles.

And also, why don't these movies ever give subtitles for the songs that begin the story?!? I was interested in understanding what they were singing about this Alexandra for.

Kidnapping Caucasian Style, or Shurik's New Adventures

It's so refreshing to see a comedy when for the most part, everything is oh so serious.

In comparison with American comedies, this film lacked dirty humor (I noticed this too with Irony of Fate). I enjoyed the physical jokes and was reminded of the Three Stooges when the three villains were brought into the story. I also was thoroughly amused by the quirky chase scenes and the goofy music that accompanied them. This comical film is so different with what I'm accustomed to. For example, Superbad, sticks in my mind. Even though I loved the stupid vulgar teenage humor, it can get old -Sometimes you just have to go back to the basics.

Right from the beginning, I found Shurik to be a dorky, but silly character to watch. I laughed at the reoccurrence of Shurik bringing up that he's interested in folklore and toasts and is met by many who have numerous toasts to tell over some drinks. (I was just waiting for someone to yell "You shouldn't drink so much")

Mirror

As I watched Mirror, I was constantly trying to figure out what time it was, the narrator's present or past. To me, the film began with a wife waiting patiently for her husband to return from the war; I got this feeling that he had already been killed. She apparently had children, but I didn't quite understand why the daughter's head was shaved. These same children appear at the end of the film with whom I think is the aged mother; I guessed that the mother was now plagued with some mental disease and that these kids were hallucinations. I know that the narrator was the son of the woman, seen in the beginning of the film, but where is the daughter?

As the movie continues to unfold, these poems appear during different scenes; the words seem so eerie and depressing, one of which I can sort of remember: "Like an insane man with a knife in his hand"(something along those lines). I also noticed how it was always raining or there was some appearance of liquid, for example, the milk dripping in the doctor's home or the soldiers marching in the muck.

When the film reveals that the narrator is much older and has a son, I remember him telling his ex-wife that she reminds him of his mother. Right from that point, I couldn't tell if at one moment it was the ex-wife or if it was the mother; it seemed to be always switching. This is also true with the son as the story jumped back to the narrator's memory with the gun scene. I noticed that the son had a mole right by his upper lip so that when I saw the scene from the narrator's memory, I got really confused in who I was looking at: young narrator or son?

As I tried so hard to follow this film, my brain could not connect all these short events that would appear on screen. One minute I'm watching a bull fight (Spain), next minute I'm seeing Chinese mobs pointing at these books that had no meaning to me. This brings to mind the scene in which the mother is running to what appears to be her job as an editor? She needs to see the proof of a particular day's paper (I can't remember which) and seems anxious to discover if something is there. I really wanted to know what that something was!

Overall, I was thrown into this strange unique film that even when it was over, makes no sense whatsoever to me. Some of the weirdest scenes are still stuck in my head, for instance, when the mother kills the rooster, the grenade scene, as well as the beginning dream of the child who sees his mother with wet hair dangling over her face and walking oh so eerily around the home that seems to be falling apart before your eyes. Creepy.

Ballad of a Soldier

I found Ballad of a Soldier to be an enjoyable film. From the beginning, I saw a closeness between the soldiers and an overall kindness seen in the townspeople he encounters. Although Alyosha does meet some negativity with some (what a doctor says to him right after the train gets bombed, as well as the man who initially decides not to take him to his village for fear of being jailed), the majority of people feel this sympathy towards those who were fighting. This film explores the individuals who are affected because of the war. We are only exposed to a small amount of battlefield scenes, but most of the story is set upon Aloyosha and the people he meets along the way.

Aloyosha is the hero of the story. As he meets individuals who are troubled, he helps them in some way. Right from the start, Aloyosha is kind, has morals, as well as representing this image of what the Russian soldier was to the audience. As he leaves the front, his first act of kindness is shown to a random soldier -to bring soap and the fact that he is well back to his wife. This scene shows the friendship felt between these men; the hardships they endure, but still they are laughing. Further into the story, Aloyosha encounters a wounded soldier journeying home. Without a question, he helps the man carry his luggage and plays a part in him changing his mind to return to his wife. Even though some men in the war lacked integrity, the message from these acts of kindness sends a message that these were the men who fought for Russia, these good men whom were lost, the families they left behind, and the sadness felt at this time for everyone.

I found the most memorable person he meets to be Shura. They meet in an unusual fashion, but their playful interaction foreshadows that she obviously isn't married or engaged and that Aloyosha will fall for her. This relationship incorporates some kind of love story into the film even though it's so short. I can't image how many husbands were lost during this time and the heartbreak of countless wives.

When Aloyosha finally gets to see his mother, the scene when they embrace is so powerful; they can't even speak. It's nice to see this strong relationship between a mother and son- Nowadays families are so broken; so and so hate each other or children barely go visit their parents. I see this aspect here in the States that it's refreshing to see a son love his mother so much and that he'd rather spend the only time he has with her than anything else in the world.

Overall, I found this film to be very entertaining. It lacked the usual propaganda that I had seen in Socialist Realist movies and left me with a sort of happy ending. (We are told he dies in the beginning, but it is not shown at the end.) Viewing this representation of widespread anguish and pain of these broken families that did exist, made me feel so much sympathy for the Russians who had been affected by WWII.

Ivan the Terrible Part I

When watching this film, I noticed how much God and the Church were referred to. I wouldn't say that religion was portrayed in a positive light because it seemed to me that the Church was extremely wealthy and didn't contribute money to where it was needed.

The acting style compared to what I've originally seen by Eisenstein was funny at first, but as I continued to watch it I realized that it made everything so dramatic and serious. Movements seem to be overdone, but it adds to the atmosphere and you can't not understand what's going on. His play on shadows I thought was well done. (The scene when Ivan sends one of his men to give some kind of token to Queen Elizabeth, was one that stuck out in my mind.)

As a leader, Ivan's ideas are smart and sensible. In order to become unified and strong, the foreigners need to be driven out and all the peoples and separate states brought together under one ruler, instead of many; That seems realistic and inevitable. I view Ivan as a positive influence in this film. As I said, he isn't crazy in his ideals and beliefs, he does what is necessary (for instance, bringing them to war for a good reason), and he doesn't seem like a corrupt or evil man (example: even though on his death bed he asks for his men to swear themselves to the true heir and they turn their backs on him in silence, he doesn't execute them all after his miraculous recovery, which is something I would have done when everyone is plotting against you.)

Circus

So first off, that was an ending that I would have never expected during the viewing of this film; it felt like it was just thrown in there to appease the government.

Secondly, I always just assumed that Russia's government, during that time, hated foreigners and was isolated from the rest of the world- How did she even get into the country? And all this talk about being tolerant of different nationalities (black, purple, red, whatever) through the black child, I'm confused.

What I found to be believable was the fact that she had to flee from America. Having a mixed child back then would be disagreeable and frowned upon by white citizens. Because of this discrimination, it's understandable why Marion Dixon was driven out. She had the choice of giving up the baby or moving to a new location.

I feel that this film was pure entertainment, except for the ending of course. The jokes were good, I laughed, and this humor would have helped Russians, of that time period, to sit back, relax, and get away from the serious troubles of their lives.

Chapaev

While watching Chapaev, I found the film to be thoroughly enjoyable and also could understand why it was such a hit with the Russian public. Whereas Battleship Potemkin bombed at the box office, Chapaev portrayed an account in history with characters that the public could relate to, peasant and worker alike. Besides being made with sound, the story was easily understood and allowed the uneducated to be entertained without hidden themes or meanings. It also led the older generation to reminisce of the Civil War days and aided in the youth to understand a time that meant so much to their elders and future.
This film is action packed and suspenseful, while displaying softer aspects in its characters. The main character and commander, General Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev, was stern, powerful, as well as quick tempered, but maintained a sense of humor and love for his comrades. The relationship between Petka and Anka also brings a sort of romantic side into the story. While all this fighting and killing is taking place, they have their love and a bright future to look forward to. (Unfortunately Petka has to go and get himself killed.)
Another aspect from the movie that I really took pleasure in was the fact that it was made with the use of sound. My attention was glued to the screen and I followed the storyline without having to use my imagination, as with silent films. I also enjoyed hearing the Russian songs in Chapaev. While all the men sang along, I got a sense of brotherhood and equality within the Red Army.

Man with the Movie Camera

What I first want to state about this film is that I really enjoyed the music!! Different from what I was originally exposed to. :]

To me, the film was a look into a city and its citizens. It lacked a plot and characters, but was interesting in that you could view this particular time period and discover peoples' jobs and activities. The film was composed of various negative and positive aspects of life. For instance, a scene in a beauty shop, someone in need of medical attention, as well as birth..

One scene that sticks out in my mind is when a couple goes to register for their marriage license and this happy tune is playing- then it flips to a more serious note with a depressing tune for a couple who are choosing divorce. I love the facial expression of that woman. The divorcing couple seems to bicker a little bit, she makes a disgruntled face, and they sign papers. I found this change from marriage/divorce to the images of death/birth to be interesting in a display of opposites.

What I also noticed from the Man with the Movie Camera is that the director would take varying objects and give them a life of their own. For example, the moving crawfish (Atleast I thought it looked like one) or the dancing camera. This was an aspect that I had not seen previously in the other silent movies and found them to be amusing and random.

Comparing Vertov's montage technique with Eisenstein's- I find Eisenstein's style to be more planned and executed (mathematically, psychologically calculated), whereas I get a sense of randomness in Vertov's..
In Eisenstein's work (that I have previously seen) he includes intertitles- Vertov did not in this film. Without intertitles, I spent most of the movie trying to figure out what was going on, realizing it wasn't a story, then trying to figure out what the director's message/theme was, and finally coming to the conclusion that it could be some sort of documentary on these people in this city???

Silent Movies

On Monday, we were exposed to three silent films: Child of the Big City, The 1002nd Ruse, and The Dying Swan. I have to admit, it was an adjustment going from what my generation is used to, all the technological advances in special effects and camera shots to back when cinema was first progressing. I found it to be a challenge. With no sound, I had to keep constant eye contact and used my imagination in what the dialogue could have been. My attention spand is not the best and noticed my eyes would move from what the camera was directed towards to the environment. I would try to figure out what was in the scenery to decipher what kind of person the character was representing. The lack of dialogue also was a huge change for me. It creeped me out in a way in that I was relieved to have music to guide me through the scenes.

Today, we viewed Battleship Potemkin, a jump to another silent but very different movie. I found this film to be "blah" in that I don't have an affinity for war orientated stories. On that matter, it had no plot, no main characters, it just screamed revolution, a message. Throughout Battleship Potemkin, I honestly was just anticipating the fight scene and was disappointed when it was revealed there was no such thing.
However disappointing the end was, I did enjoy the shorter scenes, varying camera shots, and settings. I found the change of scenery to be refreshing in that the film was shot in different areas, ships, ocean, and land.

Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!

Overall, I enjoyed seeing this movie. It made me laugh, as well as incorporating a romantic feel into the storyline.

Throughout Zhenya's troubles, I noticed how marriage was brought up. It must be important to Russians in finding a husband or wife by a certain age. Marriage could be seen as a universal thing, but here in the States, more and more people are choosing the single life or are just choosing to be together without the label.

With all the apartments made to be the identical, did the government expect its citizens to lack individualism? And how did they treat their citizens?