Quote Originally Posted by Полуношник
Quote Originally Posted by Vbar
So, is there anything that prevents us from thinking of Zakharov’s allusion to his contemporary Soviet leader?
The success of a satirical, ironic allusion may depend on how the audience succeeds in “getting” it.
KGB has gone, so nothing can prevent us from thinking anything. However, the ironic allusions that we "get" are not necessary the same allusions which was intended by Zakharov. Is there something that could prevent me from thinking that Zakharov wasn't so narrow-minded when he shot his film? Look, the Soviet Union doesn't exist twenty years. Brezhnev died about 30 years ago. I think, half of the members of this forum doesn't remember those times. Nevertheless, they like this film. May be they see more common allusions.
Gogol died in 1852, but nothing prevents me from thinking that more than half of the members of this forum have been able (or could be able) to appreciate Zakharov’s allusion to Khlestakov (even if Ревизор was published in 1836).
So, I do not think that it is necessary to have lived in some particular period of history to 'remember' certain events. It is sufficient to read ( or have read) some books…

As it was implicit in my first post, I, too, like this film and consider Zakharov a very open-minded and intelligent person.

Thanks for your attention.

P.S.
I wish you a happy 32nd of May.