Kak ya provyol etim letom (How I Ended This Summer)

A visually breathtaking film by Alexei Popogrebsky that absolutely will blow your mind with many extraordinary sights of real Artic Circle landscapes as film was really shot on a real meteorological station in the Arctic which besides the visual poetry gives so much realism to the very-slow paced story that becomes sort of a thriller between the two technicians that work at the remote station.

Absolutely not a movie for everyone as for two hours you will watch awesome landscape after landscape, with very little dialogue, absence of sounds, only two characters not really getting along, and tension built more from not really knowing why the younger character is doing what he’s doing. You actually will not really know so will be up to you to deduce motivations when you reach the open ended story finale.

For one third of time film tells about the routine of the two meteorologists, one third about the younger one not telling the older the important news and the last third about what happens after the younger man tells the important news. That’s it very simple yet complex story.

Film was in competition at the 2010 Berlinale were won the Outstanding Artistic Achievement in the Category Camera and both actors, Grigory Dobrygin and Sergei Puskepalis shared the Best Actor Award.

I liked the film and was marveled by the beauty of the Artic circle, but at moments lost interest in the narrative as wasn’t sure what to think about the younger man motives and got not many clues to like or dislike what he was doing. Perhaps a little more info will have allowed me to ‘forget’ about the story and concentrate on watching so many outstanding sights. A must be seen film only to those that appreciate art cinema.

Enjoy!!

Край Kray (The Edge)

An entertaining film by Aleksei Uchitel that to my surprise is a love story told using all the western stereotypes of Russia (taiga, bears, moonshine, etc) plus one element that I’m sure will excite more some viewers (male) than others (female) showing train races with early 20th century built locomotives.

Set shortly after the end of WWII in the Siberian hinterland among Russians and Germans with damaged personal stories and a strange transformation: the victors seem to be crawling into the skins of the defeated, and vice versa. Ignat arrives to the small village and stirs the population with his ways and driving a locomotive when he was clearly forbidden to do. Eventually he goes to an island to rescue an old abandon locomotive which he succeeds thanks to the help of a German woman that spent the war alone in the island and survived after four years. So, it’s the very unconventional –yet very commercial- love story between Ignat and Elsa.

As Uchitel said in an interview, this is the most commercial film he has done and consequently appeals to a wider audience and unfortunately it’s true as looks and feels like a very-entertaining but very-commercial film. Still there were a few (too few) outstanding and breathtaking scenes that recall how Uchitel can be poetic framing scenes.

I enjoyed the film that grabbed my attention for every minute and didn’t let go until the very end with an extraordinary aerial view of grayish Siberian forest in winter. So commercial does not mean bad, but I absolutely missed visual poetry and slower pace that allows feeling and live everything told in the story. Puzzles me that’s Russia’s Oscar submission, but seems whoever chose this film was thinking in a film that could please Academy voters to –of course- get the Oscar.

So if you’re in the mood of watching mainstream Russian cinema with a very-unconventionally told love story this is the film to watch and I’m sure you’ll enjoy beyond what you imagined. Then I’m positive that men will love also the film for all the locomotive action that the film portraits.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @MOC

32nd Moscow International Film Festival Award Winners

With what seems like a complete and eclectic program the 2010 Moscow fest absolutely has something for everyone with films from all over the world, including a Chabrol retrospective, Sergio Leone homage, Asian Extreme program and a documentary series by none other than Alexander Sokurov just to mention a few. The fest runs from June 17 to 26.

The Opening Film is the 2010 Claude Lelouche's Une Femme et des Hommes (What Love May Bring) and the Closing Film is one that I have been following since Cannes (no, it wasn't in the fest) Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adele Blanc-Sec by Luc Besson, 2010. These two films are obviously must be seen for me.

These are the films in the Main Competition.

A la Deriva (Drifting), Ventura Pons, Spain, 2010
Besa, Srdjan Karanović, Serbia, Slovenia, France, Hungary and Croatia, 2010
Boxhagener Platz, Matti Geschonneck, Germany, 2010
Ça commence par la fin (It Begins with the End), Michael Cohen, France, 2010 (Yep, is the one left out of Cannes... with Emmanuelle Beart)
Cole, Carl Bessai, Canada, 2009
Denizden Gelen (Brought by the Sea), Nesli Çölgeçen, Turkey, 2010
Der Albaner (The Albanian), Johannes Naber, Germany and Albania, 2009 Winner of the Jury Prize Silver George
Der Kameramörder (The Cameramurderer), Robert Adrian Pejo, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland, 2010
Despre alte mame (Different Mothers), Mihai Ionesku and Tiberiu Iordan, Romania, 2010 (yes must be seen for me)
För kärleken (Dear Alice), Othman Karim, Sweden, 2010 (Danny Glover in a Swedish film... hmm)
Gye-mong Young-hwa (Enlightment Film), Park Dong-hoon, South Korea, 2009 (seems interesting)
Hermano (Brother), Marcel Rasquin, Venezuela, 2010 Winner of the Golden George
Rózyczka (Little Rose), Jan Kidawa-Blonski, Poland, 2010
Stŭpki v pyasŭka (Footsteps In The Sand), Ivaylo Hristov, Bulgaria, 2010
Utolsó jelentés Annáról (The Last Report on Anna), Márta Mészáros, Hungary, 2009
Vorobey (Sparrow), Yuri Shiller, Russia, 2010
Zemský ráj to na pohled (An Earthy Paradise for the Eyes), Irena Pavlásková, Czech Republic, 2009

To check info about the above films as well as all films in the fest -including the ones in competition at the Perspectives section- go here.

To check all award winners go here.

Tulpan

What an unexpected pleasure as this Sergey Dvortsevoy film is a drama that has very gentle comedy, the best is that it made me softly laugh and enjoy a lot more the splendid cinematography, great performances by one actor and many non-actors, and a story that’s refreshing especially from the few films that I have seen that happen in steppes or in the middle of nothing!

Basically tells the story of Asa that after serving in the Russian navy goes back to the steppes and his dream of being a herdsman with his own ranch. To have his dream come true, he has to find a bride and with the help of friends he goes to ask for Tulpan’s hand. But Tulpan doesn’t like Asa, he has way too big ears! Obviously the story is the excuse to show everyday life in the solitude of the Hunger Steppes and you have no idea how desolated Kazakhstan steppes can be; that’s it if you have never seen a film from Mongolia.

Yes most compare this film to other Kazahstan movies that unfortunately haven’t seen, but to me the style (blending reality and fiction), pace, cinematography and story (without the humor) seem similar to Mongolia’s films like The Cave of the Yellow Dog. This comment is only meant as a reference and does not demerit the absolutely well-deserved honors that Tulpan collected since winning the Un Certain Regard award at the 2008 Cannes.

Have to share that everyone talks about one particular scene related to the birth of a sheep. The scene perfectly fits the story, but most of all is like a catharsis to everything that has happened before. Still, be aware that yes it’s a little hard to watch and perhaps is not for the weak of heart.

So if you wish to experience life in a remote and desolated area of the world you have to watch this fantastic movie that will definitively surprise you with the gentle and naïve humor. A must be seen film for everyone that like the word art in their movies.

I waited more than a year to have the opportunity to watch this movie and I had high expectations. The film surpassed my expectations by far as I really enjoyed this drama, comedy, recording of traditions and beautiful scenery; but must of all I absolutely enjoyed the realistic –yet magical- poetry of the visual and narrative storytelling from the debut feature film of a mostly documentary director. Bravo Dvortsevoy!! Hope he does many more movies.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch Trailer @ Movie On Companion.

In Tranzit (In Transit)

Two things attracted me to this movie, the cast and the story. The cast includes John Malkovich, Daniel Bruhl, and Vera Farmiga. The story seemed so interesting as tells about an empty Russian transit women’s prison (women from here go to the Gulag) in the aftermath of WWII where a group of male German prisoners of war are taken by “mistake”. The prison guards are women who have lost loved ones to the hands of the Germans that did atrocious things in St. Petersburg. So you can see the possibilities for a great script with a great story.

Based on true facts this UK and Russian production unfortunately does not deliver as has a very weak script that makes the film go nowhere even when the plot thickens as among the prisoners there is suspicion that there are some wanted SS war criminals (is true) plus Russian wardens and local lonely women start to fall for the “enemy”.

I cannot complain about the acting, as Malkovich does an unpleasant and unlikable character very well, Farmiga does a complex character good, and Bruhl is acceptable even when his character is always hidden among all the prisoners. Is basically a terrible script that lost the great opportunity to tell an interesting story in a dramatic, tense, romantic, relevant way and opt to tell the story in the most uninteresting and tedious way what makes this movie totally forgettable.

Still was remarkable for me to find what could be interesting tales about the aftermath of WWII in Russia. Tales that not often are told in movies for western viewers consumption.

I find the idea (and true story) fascinating and I just wish that another scriptwriter revisits the story to create a great script that I’m sure could make a great movie.

Definitively I cannot recommend this movie.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Остров Ostrov (The Island)

Sometimes you expect a movie to be good and I was really hoping that this movie by Pavel Lungin was good. How wrong I was. This movie is not good, is Outstandingly Excellent!!! The best I have seen in a long, long time and one that I strongly recommend to everyone that loves great storytelling with extraordinary visual and tech specs that create a true cinema masterpiece that has something not common in great cinema as is also surprisingly very entertaining.

I really don’t want to tell you what is about as I believe that knowing anything about the story will help you to experience the surprise of how amazing the story is (especially because is a Russian story). But I can tell you that the story happens in a small Russian Orthodox monastery with some constructions built in small islands connected by man made fragile bridges. Just watching the amazing location is superb with an unbelievably good and visually poetic cinematography. Many things happen in this story that mainly is the story of a very unusual Holy Man that can foretell the future, heal and even do exorcisms. But, you have to remember that this is not Hollywood, this is what I can call Great Russian cinema, so the Holy Man will not likely be as you can imagine. Last, some can see it as a religious story, but not me. I see it as an amazing (and very entertaining) spiritual story.

All right the film is not for all audiences, as has a very slow pace that allows you to gloriously contemplate the magnificent location to the minimal detail. Besides when is in the WWII moment is really dark with the minimum light possible and is really in black and white; then when moves in time to the 70’s lighting gives the impression that the film is still in black and white (which is not) and makes the monks look like branchless trees, dark and tall, just like the famous Russian icons. Really Fabulous! But what is really masterful is the incredible succession of one after another excellent visual compositions. Last, the palette slightly changes to be more real full color as the story reaches the end and the finale is in crescendo with a light saturation take. I simply love directors that take such good care of little details to make the film outstanding.

But the performance by former Russian rock star Pyotr Mamonov is unbelievably outstanding, superb! He really makes Father Anatoli a truly colorful character. Chapeau to Mamonov and Lungin!

Yes, this movie really excited me and definitively makes me extremely happy that Pavel Lungin has 12 movies that I haven’t seen and hopefully I will see eventually. But now more than ever the wait for being able to watch Tsar will be hard to endure.

This is a movie that I strongly recommend to everyone that enjoys serious and great cinema. Bravo!!!

BIG ENJOY!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Revisiting Tarkovsky

Since I started this blog, my greatest pleasure still is the opportunity to watch almost everything by Andrei Tarkovsky and today I learned that some of you that live near New York City will have the opportunity to watch in the big screen a complete retrospective of the master Russian filmmaker. Lucky you all!!

The Film Society of Lincoln Center will screen from July 7 to the 14 the seven (7) feature films by Tarkovsky and besides being sorry for not being able to go to NYC, I’m sorry that they didn’t included his amazing short films.

Anyway you will be able to watch Andrei Rublev, Ivan’s Childhood, The Mirror, Nostalgia, The Sacrifice, Solaris and Stalker. Also the retrospective includes the documentary Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky by Dmitry Trakovsky that’s one of the several Tarkovsky interesting homage documents available and if you feel like watching the trailer go Movie On Companion.

If you feel like checking more information about this great retrospective and learn about showtimes and purchasing tickets go here. Because is a remarkable quote, I’m reproducing here the opening of the retrospective presentation at the Film Society official site.

"Tarkovsky for me is the greatest, the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream." -Ingmar Bergman

If you’re able to attend this retrospective, I know you will be transported to a highly imaginative visual and narrative world not often seen in any-country cinema. Tarkovsky’s mastery is really impressive!

Please do not miss this great opportunity.

Cheers!!!

31st Moscow International Film Festival Award Winners

Today the fest annoucend the award winners and here they are.

Official Competition

Golden George for Best Film: Petia Po Doroge V Tsarstvie Nebesnoye (Pete on the Way to Heaven), Nilkolai Dostal, Russia

Silver George for Special Jury Prize: ЧУДО Chudo (Miracle), Alexander Proshkin, Russia, 2008

Silver George for Best Director: Mariana Chenillo for Cinco Días Sin Nora (Five Days Without Nora), México, 2008

Silver George for Best Actress: Lena Kostyuk in Melodiya Dlya Sharmanki (Melody for a Barrel Organ), Kira Muratova, Ukraine

Silver George for Best Actor: Vladimir Ilyn in Palata Nomer 6 (Ward No. 6), Karen Shakhnazarov, Russia

FIPRESCI Prize: Melodiya Dlya Sharmanki (Melody for a Barrel Organ), Kira Muratova, Ukraine

Russian Critics Jury Prize: Come Dio Comanda (As God Commads), Gabriele Salvatores, Italy, 2008
Special Mention: The Missing Person, Noah Buschel, USA

International Federation of Film Clubs Jury Prize: Melodiya Dlya Sharmanki (Melody for a Barrel Organ), Kira Muratova, Ukraine

Perspectives Competition

Best Film: Konphliktis Zona (Conflict Zone), Vano Burduli, Georgia

Russian Critics Jury Prize: Sobytie (The Event), Andrey Eshpay, Russia
Kommersant Prize: Faasuto Sukuwaddo (The First Squad), Yoshiharu Ashino, Russia, Japan, and Canada

Other Awards

International Federation of Film Clubs for Best Russian film: Sumashedshaya pomosch (Help Gone Mad), Boris Khlebnikov, 2009

To check the official annoucements go here.

31st Moscow International Film Festival

The festival will run from June 19 to 28 and here are the movies in the competition programs.

Official Competition

Beauty, Toshio Goto, Japan, 2007
Bibi, Hassan Yektapanah, Iran, 2007
ЧУДО Chudo (Miracle), Alexander Proshkin, Russia, 2008
Cinco Días Sin Nora (Five Days Without Nora aka Nora’s Will), Mariana Chenillo, México, 2008
Come Dio Comanda (As God Commads), Gabriele Salvatores, Italy, 2008
Happy New Year, Christoph Schaub, Switzerland
Jeo Nuk Ui Game (Today and the Other Days), Wee An Choi, Korea
Mala Moskwa (Little Moscow), .Waldemar Krzystek, Poland
Mediadori (The Mediator), Dito Tsintsadze, Georgia and Germany
Melodiya Dlya Sharmanki (Melody for a Barrel Organ), Kira Muratova, Ukraine
Mooki Bo’era (Burning Mooki), Lena Chaplin and Slava Chaplin, Israel
Palata Nomer 6 (Ward No. 6), Karen Shakhnazarov, Russia
Petia Po Doroge V Tsarstvie Nebesnoye (Pete on the Way to Heaven), Nilkolai Dostal, Russia
Raci (Crayfish), Ivan Tscherkelov, Bulgaria
The Missing Person, Noah Buschel, USA
Tréfa (Prank), Péter Gárdos, Hungary

Perspectives Competition

Aya Seyahat (Journey to the Moon), Kutluğ Ataman, Turkey
Bonded Parallels, Hovhannes Galstyan, Armenia, France and Norway
Die Dame Mit Dem Hündchen (Lady with the Little Dog), Julij Koltun, Germany
Dilber'in sekiz gunu (Dilber Eight Days), Cemal San, Turkey
Faasuto Sukuwaddo (The First Squad), Yoshiharu Ashino, Russia, Japan, and Canada
Je Te Mangerais (You Will Be Mine), Sophie Laloy, France (Must be seen)
Koma (Coma), Ludwig Wűst, Austria
Konphliktis Zona (Conflict Zone), Vano Burduli, Georgia
Last Conversation, Noud Heerkens, Netherlands
Metastaze (Metastases), Branko Schmidt, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moon, Duncan Jones, USA
Perfidia (Pefidy), Rodrigo Bellott, Chile and USA
Sobytie (The Event), Andrey Eshpay, Russia
Sukunat (Silence), Yolqin To'ychiyev, Uzbekistan

To check the press release go here. Pavel Lungin will chair the Main Competition Jury and his latest film Tsar will be the Opening Night Film.

As the fest says, last year’s success of Bulgarian ZIFT by Yavor Gardev made selection committee of the MIFF look closer to Bulgaria. This interest found expression in this year’s festival program Bulgarian Focus. The program combines the most successful Bulgarian films of the last few years and brand new ones – this year’s A Farewell To Hemingway and the first Bulgarian omnibus 15. I’m really looking forward to explore some of the movies in the Focus on Bulgaria program.