Thread: добрый фильм

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

No way, it's not the same, and again "schmaltzy" is negative.
"Добрый фильм" is always _ honest praise, no sneer intended. It can be drama or comedy, but it's a movie that makes you want (even if for an hour or two) to be a better person, a kinder one, or makes you feel generous, mellow or just more optimistic. Well, something like that.

How is it you speak such good English? Amazing!

Anyway...

I thought of a great example of a Western film (though not Hollywood) that I would call a добрый фильм: Life is Beautiful.

Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

How is it you speak such good English? Amazing!

I have my moments. But still more often than not I feel that I can't put two words together.

Life is Beautiful.

Отличный пример.

Altruistic ... I can't find an English dictionary but I think this word means "striving for perfection" - to be kind-hearted ..... the film encourages good-will towards mankind so it is altruistic. It is not really a common word..... and might mean nothing to the general film going public, but it may describe this type of film.

Sorry if I'm talking rubbish again...

People, how about "cozy film"?

Not "cozy" but "a heart-warming film" sounds better. Cozy is for a cozy home, a cozy fire etc.

Originally Posted by Mandy

Not "cozy" but "a heart-warming film" sounds better. Cozy is for a cozy home, a cozy fire etc.

(1) I completely agree with Mandy's recommendation of "heartwarming";

(2) I would also suggest "uplifting," if you want to emphasize that the movie inspires optimism.

(3) Although, as Mandy says, the word "cozy" doesn't quite work for films, you can suggest the idea of "уют(ный)" in a metaphoric way with a phrase such as "this movie is cinematic comfort food."

(Note that "comfort food" is a fixed expression in itself, and if you Google for the three-word string "cinematic comfort food," you'll see that it's quite a cliche in movie reviews.)

Originally Posted by Mandy

Altruistic ... I can't find an English dictionary but I think this word means "striving for perfection" - to be kind-hearted ..... the film encourages good-will towards mankind so it is altruistic. It is not really a common word..... and might mean nothing to the general film going public, but it may describe this type of film.

Sorry if I'm talking rubbish again...

The problem with using "Altruistic" is that 90% of the population probably won't know what you are talking about if you use it.

Feel Good movie, heart warming, and uplifting are all good suggestions.

Originally Posted by Matroskin Kot

P.S. Can you give an example of a Western film that would qualify as "добрый"?

Um.. It's 3 years too late, but I was rereading this thread and two relatively recent Western movies that came to my mind immideately were "Amelie" and "Les Choristes" (both French, I know). I think they are truly "kind" movies in a way the Russian expression suggests.

what would be examples of Russian добрые фильмы?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Um.. It's 3 years too late, but I was rereading this thread and two relatively recent Western movies that came to my mind immideately were "Amelie" and "Les Choristes" (both French, I know). I think they are truly "kind" movies in a way the Russian expression suggests.

life-affirming? a warm, life-affirming film.

ps. спасибо, gromozeka, for reminding me about Les Choristes. I remember I was meaning to watch that a while back and then forgot all about it.)

Originally Posted by Zombie Acorn

The problem with using "Altruistic" is that 90% of the population probably won't know what you are talking about if you use it.

Feel Good movie, heart warming, and uplifting are all good suggestions.

I think most people would understand the word "altruistic", but like the word "kind", it's usually only used to describe people or actions (this is John, he's an altruistic/kind person, he does altruistic/kind things).

For a movie, I'd go with "heartwarming".