Post: #1

For those of you who are learning Russian or are interested in travelling to Russia, I highly recommend this film. It is a very beautiful and romantic story that touches on many aspects of life in Russia and the mindset of Russian women, that are still relevant in spite of the nearly 40 years that have past.

Some themes of the film include the absurdity of life in the Soviet Union (much of which still applies to Russia), the ups and downs of a relationships with a Russian girl, and the pain that short-term romances inflict on both sides. And by absurdity, I mean unpredictableness.

The film also has some beautiful music and poetry, it is a New Years classic in Russia. It is absolutely worth the three hours to watch it.

The film is shown for free on Youtube, with captions, which is kind of annoying if you are trying to listen to the Russian dialogue but it is good for beginners.

Has anyone else seen it? Recommendations for something similar?

Post: #2

Oh dude, come New Years, this movie is on every channel over and over again. That and Home Alone.
if you want Soviet cinematography, check out this playlist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjlNAWZ4d...151D1767EA

You can't go wrong with either one. Anything with Nikulin in it is fantastic. I don't really get Mimino, but my dad loves it. "Osobennosti Nacionalnoy Russkoi Ohoty" is the first of the series - all the Russians have seen it and Americans can probably relate. I don't know if "Siberian Barber" is in there, but it is about the old-old Russia everyone seems to like. It also has an American character and it comes with the English subtitles.

Post: #3

I've seen it a few times. A few factoids about this film:

-It's a tradition to watch it every year on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. I don't know if young kids still watch it, but many people over 30 do.
- New Year's Eve is more important than Christmas in Russia. This film shows the holiday atmosphere very well.
-The blonde, Barbara Brylska, is a Polish actress. She speaks Russian without a foreign accent in this film. I don't know if somebody else does her voice or she really doesn't have an accent.

I can also recommend another great Russian comedy about about New Years Eve: Gentlemen of Luck (Джентльмены Удачи). It is one of my favorite Russian movies. Can't find one with subtitles, but it must be out there somewhere. Here is one without subtitles:




*Edit - corrected errors.

Post: #4

(11-10-2013 09:36 PM)Brodiaga Wrote:  -The blonde, Barbara Brylska, is a Polish actress. She speaks Russian without a foreign accent in this film. I don't know if somebody else does her voice or she really doesn't have an accent.

*Edit - corrected errors.
...
New Years Eve: Gentlemen of Luck (Джентльмены Удачи).

Interesting that she is Polish. I didn't notice an accent either. Maybe she was raised in the SU.

I was actually going to watch Gentlemen of Luck next. I absolutely prefer watching the films without subtitles (I speak and understand Russian pretty well), though it would be even better to find a film on Youtube that has Russian subtitles though I haven't ever seen this.

one-two - thanks for the recommedations.

Post: #5

Try this:

Где находится нофелет (1987)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_DeozHBKU


A funny movie about daygame. A complete sexless beta loser is schooled in the art of picking up girls on the street by his super confident cousin, who happens to have a skeleton in his closet, so to speak. The name of the movie is the pickup line they use.

Post: #6

(11-10-2013 09:36 PM)Brodiaga Wrote:  I've seen it a few times. A few factoids about this film:

-It's a tradition to watch it every year on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. I don't know if young kids still watch it, but many people over 30 do.
- New Year's Eve is more important than Christmas in Russia. This film shows the holiday atmosphere very well.
-The blonde, Barbara Brylska, is a Polish actress. She speaks Russian without a foreign accent in this film. I don't know if somebody else does her voice or she really doesn't have an accent.

I can also recommend another great Russian comedy about about New Years Eve: Gentlemen of Luck (Джентльмены Удачи). It is one of my favorite Russian movies. Can't find one with subtitles, but it must be out there somewhere. Here is one without subtitles:




*Edit - corrected errors.

Brylska does speak Russian, but she is dubbed by Valentina Talyzina in the film. And her singing parts are done by Alla Pugacheva. Great fuckin movie, by the way. It's extremely subtle and slow-moving though and I'm not sure it can be appreciated by Western audiences. I don't mean that in a snobbish way, but it's just a very Russian movie.