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Каникулы строгого режима is very funny comedy and a game of actors is great. But it just released and there are no English subtitles for it. It's a great task to translate a whole film but if each of us take 10 minutes of it we can create them. Natives are welcome to correct posts for better translation. Any suggestions?
I have finally read through this thread in it's entirety and I am blown away!
This thread is a highlight of the internet for anybody interested in film... I really don't think anything similar is available on the internet for people who do not speak Russian. There are so many incredibly insightful comments, perspectives and helpful links.
I will undertake the exercise of organising the information relating to Russian-language films into a table which I will publish in a new thread. (This thread has become too long). I will put the following information in the table:
Russian title; English Title; Year Produced; Comment; Colour/Black-White
This thread could then be used as a reference by people who study Russian and would like an introduction to Russian cinema. Sort of "100 years of Russian film"
As we all know, watching films is good for improving language skills and also for learning to understand other countries / cultures better. These films can help learners not only to improve their Russian skills, but also to understand Russia, its' history and its' people better.
Once the information is available in table - format, the Russian speakers on the forum can double-check to make sure that no important film is left out, and that no poor quality film is included.
As I said in the previous post, I've read through this amazing thread in its' entirety.
I've started downloading a whole bunch of films and I watched two so far.
I found myself agreeing specifically with many of Olya's comments regarding some specific films like "Stalker" and also her comments regarding the overall high quality of Soviet cinema. I was interested to read CoffeCup's explanation of how the actors split their time between working on movies and at the theatre.
I have no knowledge of how Soviet cinema worked, but there are many things to admire: Some incredibly talented actors and directors. The music in most of the Soviet films, was outstanding; even in the most simplistic films.
As Olya hinted; Cinema from this era was "Art for arts sake" and not just created to make money. The necessity today for all films to be profitable means that there is a tendency to stick with tried concepts and sometimes appeal to the lowest common denominator. The lack of commercialism shines through in the Soviet films - I for one find this refreshing.
I am not sure if there was any serious censorship or not and whether this had any impact on the artistic content. My guess would be that this disappeared post-Stalin..
(But on the other hand, the focus on artistic content can be taken too far - some of the films from this era I remember as frankly a bit boring... Or you feel as if you need to go and get a degree in existentialist philosophy to fully appreciate them....)
As a non-Russian viewer there is probably A LOT you are missing in terms of cultural references.
I could rant on for a long time about how much I (as a child) enjoyed some Russian childrens' productions (cartoons, puppets, fairy tales and adventures). Disney / MGM etc definitely met their match in these productions - they were allround top class.
Some specific questions:
1) I was looking for films from the 1990s and found only a few mentioned in the thread, namely Brother I, Thief, Burnt by the Sun and 9th Company, at a quick glance. Only four films in such a long thread with over 100 titles mentioned! Are there any other good films from the 1990s?
2) Anybody recognises this description of a film I've seen on TV but don't recall the name of? I'd like to see it again: Sci-fi (science fiction), with the plot revolving around an alien woman who was played by a very striking actress with short white hair and a very long neck. The plot takes place in a futuristic looking house. The film was considered to be a masterpiece but I have no idea who made it, when it was made or what the title was. My guess would be that it's from the 1980s but this could be wrong.
3) Why hasn't the nice film "Moscow does not believe in tears" been mentioned? It's more or less a romance (chick-flick) from the 1970s. I'm sure this must have been popular in Russia? Is it not considered to be good quality? I liked this film a lot anyway, and I recommend it - particularly to women.
4) "Beamer" (BMW?) which is supposedly about some guys who steal a car and drive to Magadan... ? What is the Russian name of this film, I can't find it? My brother recommended it as his top tip for contemporary Russian films (which is a sure sign it's a very violent film...) Nevertheless, the concept of driving thorugh Russia is interesting. (But is it really possible to drive to Magadan?)
5) Does anybody recall the name of a Russian film from a few years back which features the battle of Poltava?
6) Films which feature non-native speakers of Russian? (I can only think of "Mimino"). Anything more contemporary, or any other old film like that?
7) I vaguely remember that there were one (at least) musical film from the 1980s with Sofia Rotaru. Anybody remembers this? Were those good or worth watching today? The "Fame" comments made me think about Russian musical / pop films and that's the only one I can think of. Not sure of names or years though. I am also interested in her because she is (apparently!!!) a speaker of Russian as a foreign language.
I've mentioned "Кукушка" several times in this thread. :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
As for me, I don't think "9th Company" is a good film.
Or... wait, what do you mean by "films from the 1990s"? Films between 1990 and 2000? But "9th Company" was made in 2005. Okay, if you mean just films after 1990, there are more than four good films, of course.
Is this her? http://ternii.film.ru/img/large/ternii-09.jpgQuote:
2) Anybody recognises this description of a film I've seen on TV but don't recall the name of? I'd like to see it again: Sci-fi (science fiction), with the plot revolving around an alien woman who was played by a very striking actress with short white hair and a very long neck. The plot takes place in a futuristic looking house. The film was considered to be a masterpiece but I have no idea who made it, when it was made or what the title was. My guess would be that it's from the 1980s but this could be wrong.
No, this film is not considered to be bad quality. It's a very popular Russian movie.Quote:
3) Why hasn't the nice film "Moscow does not believe in tears" been mentioned? It's more or less a romance (chick-flick) from the 1970s. I'm sure this must have been popular in Russia? Is it not considered to be good quality? I liked this film a lot anyway, and I recommend it - particularly to women.
The Russian title is "Бумер".Quote:
4) "Beamer" (BMW?) which is supposedly about some guys who steal a car and drive to Magadan... ? What is the Russian name of this film, I can't find it? My brother recommended it as his top tip for contemporary Russian films (which is a sure sign it's a very violent film...) Nevertheless, the concept of driving thorugh Russia is interesting. (But is it really possible to drive to Magadan?)
"Паспорт", maybe?Quote:
6) Films which feature non-native speakers of Russian? (I can only think of "Mimino"). Anything more contemporary, or any other old film like that?
Thanks for the response!
Yes - that's the film I meant! (the woman in the pic).
By films from the 90s i DID mean 1990 - 2000 but I had only just started to skim through all the information from the thread, that's why I missed Kokoshka and got mixed up with the other film.
That's why we should turn all the information into a nice table that is easy for anybody check. People could also focus on films that interest them, for example Romantic, Comedy, War film etc.
Johanna, I must admit, this thread is amazing. As I mentioned to you, it started out as one thing and then just sort of became this lovely free-for-all exchange of questions, answers, reviews, trivia... you name it...it is in here. You want to find a song from a movie ask and... "bibbidi bobbidi boo," your wish is granted. You need subtitles to a film... "presto," you have a link for subtitles and probably Olya has written them! You don't understand the Russian meaning of something going on in the film... "abracadabra," you have an explaination x3. And on the other side... you have the American things like the cultural references in our TV/Films that we can explain. So it is a great balance and exchange.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
The list that I have on page 13, I have it in Word if it will help. Let me know, I can post it for you to download or email it to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
BTW, the list on page 13, does have the genre for each film and you can also download a pdf of it here http://www.mediafire.com/?nndmvguu0idQuote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
It's "Через тернии к звездам" then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_(film)Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
I wouldn't say it's a popular film in Russia. I don't think I've seen it entirely, it's somehow too oppressive for me. Also, there are no big "stars" (I mean actors) in that film, although Soviet cinema was exceptionally rich in stars.
Thanks for identifying the film. It's one I started watching many times on TV but never lasted to the end...
Swedish state TV in the 1980s loved these deep intellectual Russian and Eastern European films. Unfortunately not all viewers liked it, but sometimes it was all that was available to watch.
This particular one: "Per Aspera Ad Astra" was promoted a lot, prior to being shown, as a "great Soviet masterpiece..." or something like that..
And now you say people there didn't care for it... Haha!
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@Rockzmom - the link that you pasted is dead? (to the PDF...)
I pasted every title mentioned in the thread into a spreadsheet. Currently the sheet has 108 rows, but there are probably a several duplicates. I don't think the list on p. 13 was complete though?
Hm, that's funny :) It's definitely an overstatement. I've just looked up who is the director of this "masterpiece" - his name is Ричард Викторов (unknown to me). I'm sure if you ask 100 passers-by in Russia who is Ричард Викторов, you'll get 100 answers "I don't know". Although I see on Wiki that he shot a couple of more or less famous films: "Москва-Кассиопея" and "Отроки во Вселенной".Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
I like Blokpost (1998)Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196381/
http://img.ctb.ru/films/film00190/foto_02/k_001_m.jpg
and Kavkazskiy plennik (1996)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116754/
http://dic.academic.ru/pictures/enwi...kiyplennik.jpg
Super, thanks BappaBa.
Those seem like films that should be possible to find --- with subtitles.
(After checking torrents.ru it's clear to me that it has everything....
The trouble is that the uploads to this site don't seem to have subtitles.)
Without the subs I miss out on too much of the plots.
I've watched this movie not so long ago and somehow it returned to me the belief in Russian cinematograph.
It is one of the few films that have been released during the last ten years that I actually liked:
http://files.kinoros.ru/films/film00...oster_01_m.jpg
Here's some info in English:
http://www.kinokultura.com/2007/17r-graffiti.shtml
And another one from that list:
http://files.kinoros.ru/films/film00...o_poster_m.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo_(film)
There is a sketch show on Russian TV (quite a new genre for us, by the way) named "6 кадров" which is sort of a word game in Russian and means "6 frames", and/or "6 shots", and/or "6 characters" (because 6 actors play in it).
So... First, I'd like to ask Russians who watch this show if they like it and who they like best of all in that show.
And second, I'd like others to watch one of the episodes I put on youtube and ask if you like it. :) I hope everything is understandable without translation there.
[video:1laeed4x]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqOkLayYjb4[/video:1laeed4x]
Я смотрел несколько выпусков, ничего особенного на мой взгляд. Смотрел из-за Добронравова. Его бы с Нонной Гришаевой свести - получилась бы убойная смесь. =)Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
These two movies were BIG with kids in 1970s and early 1980s. Everyone knew the "Если что-то я забуду" song. Well, every child and teen, that is. I guess the films weren't quite as popular with adults as they were with us kids. Much later, I tried watching a rerun of "Отроки во Вселенной" on TV, and it wasn't nearly as much fun as it had been when I was young :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
But I had no idea about who was their director, and I have never heard of "Через тернии к звёздам". Odd, no?
Кавказский пленник-subtitles, Блокпост, but I can't find subtitles for Блокпост.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
Я вообще смотрю это шоу ТОЛЬКО из-за Добронравова. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by BappaBa
Некоторые из его номеров, на мой взгляд, просто гениальны. :rose: Например, как он в аптеке спирт спрашивает. :ROFL:
"Red Heat" with Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Russian policeman!Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
I love this movie! :bravo:Quote:
Originally Posted by Arnold Schwarzenegger
@Ramil --- Thanks! Kokoshka and Graffiti seem really excellent!
I look forward to watching them - the Kokoschka storyline is particularly interesting and I can't wait to hear that Finnish actor (Ville something) speak Russian...
Thanks a lot for the tips!
@Studyr: I couldnt find subs for Блокпост either... Other than in Polish! :wacko: So I'll save this film for later, when my Russian has improved. The plot sounds interesting and I definitely want to see this one.
@Coffecup --- haha; Arnold Schwarzenegger as Russian policeman. :lol: I never saw that film...
Here's one that I'm pretty sure has plenty of bad Russian in it: "Red Dawn" from mid 1980s. Plot: USSR and Cuba invade the USA, but some schoolkids fight back.. (This film was actually banned at first in Sweden and Finland due to being too extreme, politically. Which of course meant that all kids wanted to see it, and did.. ) Are there any old Russian cold war "paranoia" films like this?
[video:2yknbn6l]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_I4WgBfETc[/video:2yknbn6l]
Американские "Неуловимые мстители"
I checked Неуловимые мстители - another one to add to the list of interesting Russian films!
I doubt this one has subs, but you never know...
He doesn't speak Russian in that film. :P Although he speaks perfect Russian in life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
By the way, I think the English spelling of the movie title should be "Kookooshka" or even "Kukushka". Or do you just use Swedish spelling?
Olya, I keep making mistakes with the transliteration... :sorry:
I'm sorry! I just find it a bit confusing and I keep being too lazy to take time to check it. But I'll be more careful. It could cause unnecessary confusion. Or I'll just start writing the names in Russian. (I type 10 times faster in English though...)
The reason for the mixup: Germany uses the same transliteration and there is rather well-known artist called Oskar Kokoschka -- Also I remembered the old Victor Tsoi (right spelling, I checked!) song was translated as "Kokoschka". Link to the Kukushka song below for those who have never heard it!
http://www.shuative.com/ardentembrac...ychapoca_1.jpg
[video:3ulxrqt4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNp9SBW4xTA[/video:3ulxrqt4]
You'll be disappointed :) He doesn't speak Russian there ))). The whole plot rotates around the fact that all three main characters don't understand each other. Ivan speaks Russian, Anni speaks Saami (I think that's how her language is called), and Veiko speaks Finnish. Well, you won't hear him speaking Russian but the film itself is just wonderful.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
P.S. And although I was (and still am) a great fan of Kino and Viktor Tsoy I like this cover version by Zemfira more:
[video:1mr33g6i]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgc0ZYDzazY[/video:1mr33g6i]
Yes, wonderful movie, especially this song:Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
[video:o1m7vfrs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi5rmutQXIw[/video:o1m7vfrs]
This music is very good for ANY chase :) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFAC3niz6og
Does anyone have any suggestions where I can find English subtitles for Granada TV series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"? Precisely for this episode (A Scandal in Bohemia): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0506445/
Thank you, Johanna!!!!!!! :yahoo:
Another film (miniseries) set during the Civil War in Russia that you might want to check out when you know enough Russian is "Адьютант его превосходительства". It's on youtube, but no subs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
I always thought of it as the predecessor to "17 Moments of Spring".
RUSSIAN MOVIE REVIEW
"The Lady with the Dog" (Дама с собачкой, Dama s sobachkoy), 1960
(Drama/Romance)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lad...the_Dog_(film)
(see page 13 of this thread for how to watch this movie either via download on Yandex or online at YouTube)
For those of you who would like to read the story:
Story in Russian
Story in English
Awards
Winner Diploma of Merit, Foreign Actor (Aleksey Batalov) at the 1962 Jussi Awards (Finland)
Review
I must admit I have been wanted to watch this movie for MONTHS! Ever since I read and saw “The Reader” which the story “The Lady with the Little Dog” plays a pivotal part. I also wanted to see a good old fashion romance, so I really needed to be in the right mood to watch this and I knew that Hubby would not watch this “chick flick” with me!
I very much enjoyed the opening of the film more than the rest of the film, sorry to say. At first I thought “Oh how sad that I had waited so long to watch this as this is going to be just the kind of film I like,” yet, the witty one liners like “I had a good sleep for no reason” soon went away and were replaced with the melodramatic tale of our star-crossed lovers, Dmitri and Anna.
I can’t say enough about the acting of Aleksey Batalov. He had me fooled from the beginning. I truly thought his character to be the lowest pond scum alive. A total cad and a Dorian Gray to boot. The leaving of Anna’s glove at the train station before it is even cold from her hand and the train has even finished pulling out, was low. For all he knew, she could have seen him! Men! So, so, uncaring. At more than one point I was positive that Dmitri was going murder our poor Lady with the Dog!
And Anna! She was just as Dmitri had described, PATHETIC! She had no backbone whatsoever! Woman, don’t have an affair if you can’t handle it. “Don’t do the crime if you can’t pay the time,” or at least don’t go on and on and on about it ad nauseam.
Now the ending… So our lovers get back together for their little rendezvous with destiny in full view for anyone passing their hotel window to see. Especially the wife who received Anna’s letter. “Hello, here’s a clue…close the curtain if you are having an affair.” And the ending shot of Anna at the window leaving us to just assume that this romance continues for the next 20 years or so. Or does it? Was that the last time he saw her???
Now, with all that said, there were things I did like about the movie. Amazingly!
The cinematography was beyond beautiful. This is one movie where I wished it were in color and if you have read my other reviews you know I normally do not feel that way about black and white films. This time however, I felt myself longing for the color of the ocean and the marvelous costumes. The sunrise Dmitri and Anna watch together. I wanted to see it all and in Technicolor! I found it interesting to see Yalta after reading about Hangernaid’s visit there and seeing his photographs from there. I also remembered the slippers discussion we had in wintertime and thought about that while watching the snow scenes in Moscow.
The little directorial character gestures were great as well. The piano scene with the candle was brilliant. Dmitri seeing the white dog again was not bad either.
I do have some observation type questions and I hope someone will help me out.
1. What was with the scale at the ocean in Yalta? The only time I have seen scales around the beaches here are at the boardwalks and you try to fool someone by asking them to guess your weight and hope they guess wrong and then you win a prize.
2. Both Dmitri and Anna have their wedding bands on their right hands. Here in the States we wear them on the left. Do you all still wear them on the right?
3. Why was Dmitri in Yalta without his wife and kids? They never explained that one in the movie. They explained why Anna was there (due to her health, a lie) but never said why he was there for a month.
For what to watch next...I'm thinking about "The Cranes are Flying", "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed" or get back to watching "The Master and Margarita."
A long time ago on this thread I talked about the movie and book series Twilight. The second movie from this series, New Moon, is scheduled to be released November 20th.
Now a group of people out on YoutTube did spoof trailers of the first Twilight movie and the other day they released their spoof trailer of New Moon. It is not as good as their Twilight one (it has had over 8 million views); however, it is pretty funny
Here are links to the real trailers and the spoofs from Evil Iguana Production. Make certain you watch the real ones first, duh! Let me know if you need clarifations on anything as I have read all the books and seen the first movie (remember, I have teenaged daughters!)
Older daughter really likes the part where she is describing him (his skin is pale white, he is really strong and fast and so on AND the part where he tries to go outside and the door is closed).
Real Twilight Trailer #1
Real Twilight Trailer #2
Evil Iguana Twilight Spoof
This one the ending is the best part!
Real New Moon Trailer
Evil Iguana New Moon Spoof
Oh my god.........
Rockzmom, I'm afraid I will be reading your review for two days or something, to understand it properly. What a hell!!
It's just that I can't wait to tell you what I think about that movie! Some time ago, I was my favourite movie. Now I only want to say that "Дама с собачкой" is a great masterpiece from all possible points of view!
Also, it's not a love story at all!! It's not supposed to have a happy end. It had not to have and "end", or to give any explanations to a viewer. First of all, it's literature (I mean it's just a short story Chekhov wrote). It's not for entertaining a viewer! And there's no place for "liking" the film, in the simplified sense of the word "like". It's rather to make a viewer think, feel, ask. Not for entertaining or giving answers. Actually, as is well-known, art never gives answers. It only asks questions.
I'll probably write some more when I completely read and understand your post.
"The Lady with the Dog" (Дама с собачкой, Dama s sobachkoy), 1960
Yet another awesome film review rockzmom!
:bravo: :bravo: :bravo:
I found myself being careful while reading it, because I haven't seen it and I didn't want to read any spoilers...
After reading this I will try to get hold of this one plus decent subs and watch it when I get a chance.
What a pity with the lack of colour. I always prefer it although some films are so good that it doesn't matter.
Speaking about black and white films: I saw a comment from someone who said they never seen "CASABLANCA" . This is film is the classic of classics. I really recommend that you watch it... I doubt there are many adults in Europe or the US who haven't seen it. It's got some classic lines (things that the actors say) so it's best to watch it in English.
http://www.calstatela.edu/library/mm...casablanca.jpg
I have to say the older Russian movies re much better than newer ones for learners... Not sure why but they seemed to keep it simpler and speak more clearly...
No, I beg of you, write more once you have calmed down and are no longer stabbing pins in your Voodoo Doll of me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
What is the purpose of a film? Why is it made in the first place? Is it to educate? To Inform? To suspend reality for a short period of time? To take us from our own lives and troubles and transport us to someone else's? To make us laugh and forget our troubles? To let someone who has not or can't read famous literature see it and hear it or maybe understand it in a new light? To bring people of different cultures, backround and languages together?Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Yes, a film can make a viewer think, feel and ask...There are many reasons for films and "entertainment" is a BIG one. Because even for a short story such as this one, if a film does not entertain, even on some miniscule level, then no one would finance the production of it and it would not be made and then no one would ever see it.
oops - just saw Olya's comment...
I simply can't add anything here. You two are in a league of your own....
I'm simply not observant or intellectual enough....
I sort of agree with both comments...
:oops: :)
Please don't react so. If I seemed rude to you, it could be so because of my bad English. I didn't mean to write anything bad about you as a viewer (I feel it's another clumsy sentence...), and I thought you knew that.Quote:
Originally Posted by rockzmom
Please remember that the film we're discussing was shot in the Soviet time, and at that time the government financed cinema, and it financed the production of a lot of films that did not entertain, believe me :)Quote:
Because even for a short story such as this one, if a film does not entertain, even on some miniscule level, then no one would finance the production of it and it would not be made and then no one would ever see it.
I think there are more than one meaning for the word "entertain"... As well as for the verb "to like". What I mean... well, I think you understand what I meant when I wrote "entertain", don't you? You see, for example, there is a documentary "Обыкновенный фашизм", a great post-war film about fascism and nazism in which a famous Soviet director Михаил Ромм expressed his own view on it, and it's full of terrible details. Well, what I mean, is that one can't say that he likes this film. "I was shaken by this film" seems more appropriate...
The same about "to entertain". Probably it's not the same as the Russian verb "развлекать". Maybe it's "to amuse", "to divert"? In Russian, "развлекать" means something light, not serious, light-headed, frivolous; something you can enjoy eating icecream or chips.
Also... Please believe me and please don't feel hurt, but I can assure you that the language used in this movie is extremely important, and unfortunately, many nuances of what heroes say is just lost in translation. Also intonation means so much in it! How she pronounces, "My husband is.... a lackey..."!
As for the plot... I don't know why you thought it was an "old fashion romance". But believe me, it's a very bad description for this film.
I can tell you, for example, that one the most important episodes is when Gurov is trying to start a conversation about his summer romance with an acquaintance, and this acquaintance says to him (completely missing Gurov's words): "You know, you were right: the flesh of sturgeon was stale". What do you think about that episode?
Chekhov wrote about banality and mustiness of life, and about impossibility to break out of it. The plot line is a romance, true. But the main is not about love.
As for your question about the rings - all orthodox believers wear them on the right hand, so it's a tradition in Russia.
Oh, Olya.. I do understand you so much better than I first did almost a year ago. I know you are not being rude to me. I was trying to tease you back. :rose: :friends:Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
And as for your English... it is just fine!
Olya,
I know, this is long again...I'm sorry and if I could wave a magic wand or take a pill and write and think in Russian just so I could have these discussions with you - I would! Please read this as if I am sitting with you sharing a cup of tea and chatting with you as that is how I am typing it, with my cup of tea next to me. :)
I have had time now to read your second comments and you make excellent points and I agree that maybe we are having a discussion here about word choice and understanding.
Another good set of film examples would be some of Steven Spielberg' work - Saving Private Ryan, The Lost Children of Berlin, Schindler's List , So Very Far From Home. Some of these films were main stream "blockbuster hits" while others were smaller films that are more educational; however, all of these are about topics most people would not usually pay money to go sit in a theater and watch a movie about. Why would we subject ourselves to saddness and seeing images on the screen that would upset us as we know these are about events that actually happened in life? Yet, in order for anyone to watch an entire film and not fall asleep or tune out it's message (whatever that message might be) it has to on some level reach us, grab us, hold our attention - in simpelest terms, for good or bad - entertain us.
The script, actors, cinematography, editing, soundtrack, costumes, director and so on must all work together for one magical momment in time to make us stop thinking about our own lives, our jobs, our cellphones, our problems and focus instead on that big silver screen in front of us. This magically woven spell can easily be broken by one small second of bad continuity, a small unrealistic character decision, or an entire movie of bad accents. Even if the rest of the film is fabulous, one slight wrong step along the way and it can be spoiled.
It is the same with literature. Why do you select a book to read? The title? The cover art? The writing on the book jacket? Word of mouth? And once you start to read it, what keeps you reading it? Why do you want to finish a 700 page novel when there are so many other things you could be doing with your life? It is once again, no matter the topic, death, distruction, romance... on some level the author has sucked you in and woven a spell that compels you to finish or the author has not done a very good job and that book sits on shelves. Or by chance you finish the book anyway and swear never to read another book by that author again!
This part I did atually watch more than once! I was trying to understand it as I felt there must be something missing in the translation into English or I was not understanding the scene. I was thinking, "Is there a hidden meaning in the sturgeon?" And then I thought that the friend was trying to tell Gurov, in his own way, to forget about Anna. That it was was a form of symbolism. The sturgeon being bad and the idea of him thinking about the summer romance being bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Thanks! I can once again tell Hubby that I learned something from a movie!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля