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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Зачот! :bravo:
PS.
Quote:
Если ты либеральная гнида, ненавидишь своих предков и считаешь, что немцев завалили трупами – беги бегом, это твой фильм.
Входят гниды либеральны. Их и к месту и не к месту приплетают, однозначно. Видно оченно ужасны, и кусаются отменно. Среди ночи вылезают руки их из честных граждан. В патриотов садят яйца, там растут и вылезают, отвратительно гримася. Страхи. Ужас. Кетчуп с мясом.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Oh God, I saw such a great film yesterday that I can't keep me mouth shut about it. :) Even though I'm most likely the only person here interested in Bollywood.
Chalte Chalte (starring Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherji)
http://s49.radikal.ru/i125/1004/7a/d0b4aeeb0884.jpg
http://s006.radikal.ru/i213/1004/68/9239d2b0a387.jpg
Yes, it's another Bollywood movie, it has a very cheesy, god-awful beginning (about 10 minutes) but then it becomes a perfect (for me) blend of romance and realism. The first part is really romantic, while in the second is more drama than anything. This film is a bit unusual for Bollywood because it's not a happily-ever-after fairytale, where the film ends with the lovers getting married. Chalte Chalte explores problems that couples face after marriage. What I liked about it was the great chemistry between SRK and Rani, wonderful music and how small, simple, unpretentious, and sweet it was (when compared to more famous, larger-than-life "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", etc.) Great acting, tight script, wasn't bored for one minute. Was so rooting for the couple to be happy that got really emotional. And the thing is, I really didn't expect this film to touch me quite so much, having read some rather lukewarm reviews. The main complaint some people seem to have with this film is "It's too real life, I get enough of this at home, I watch Bollywood for the escapist and fairy-tale quality of it." Well, I've always been a fan of realism (social, lol). And even as a fan of Harry Potter, it was precisely the realism of emotions portrayed that I've always liked best... So it's exactly my cup of chai, that film is.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
starrysky... did you watch the film New York? It's not your typical Bollywood movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1328634/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(film)
I started to watch it MONTHS ago and the copy I had was not a great version so I never finished and just never got back to obtaining a better copy... now you are making me want to get back to that one.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
No, I've not seen that one yet though I heard it's supposedly quite good...
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoffeeCup
Does the UK have the fee for air??? People who don't like the BBC and don't watch it have to pay the fee only because their TV CAN get the BBC airing signal?
Yup... We pay... then everyone around the world downloads it off the net.. :D :shock:
I stopped watching TV about a year ago, but I am still liable to pay it.
If you own a TV you must pay it. Even though I use mine as a computer monitor and have terrible terrestial reception, so am forced to get cable TV! They don't accept the argument that you don't watch the BBC.
All of Scandinavia has the same policy; not sure about elsewhere in Europe. Personally I think it's ridiculous - they ought to just slam it on the taxes and assume that everyone has a TV.
The positive side is:
It pays for quality content as opposed to commercial junk...
Serious documentaries, historical dramas and other type of content that is not commercially profitable.
State TV does not need to have commercials which gives a MUCH better viewing experience and protects children and vulnerable people from ads.
But the system is very annoying and there is an element of state TV pushing various agendas, which as a citizen and license payer you may not be interested in paying for..
The enforcement agency is quite aggressive, they have equipment to check whether people are watching or not.. And all purchases of TVs are reported to them. But still, a lot of people don't pay.
Here are some typical forms about it:
TV licence:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/24...c8b4f3f3eb.jpg
Tracking down the license dodgers....
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/...86_468x286.jpg
Threatening letters....
http://mdzlog.files.wordpress.com/20...ing-200809.png
Someone wrote to them and said that he explicitly ban the inspectors from his property.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...ackFromTVL.jpg
The inspectors mostly just catch young people or people who don't know the law though.
Although they are very aggressive, they have no legal right to enter peoples' houses if you exlpicitly tell them they can't. However, it affects your credit rating if you live somewhere that doesn't have a license. So a lot of people pay to make sure their credit rating isn't affected.
Someone let them in to the "corridor" while I was living in student flat, at university, in Stockholm. A lot of people had a TV, and opened the door to their room because they had not expected an inspector. The inspectors saw their TVs immediately, without even entering the room, so they got fined something massive and were very upset. I had no license either, but luckily I wasn't home at the time.
Does Russia / Ukraine have anything like this, or is everything financed by ads?
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
Starrysky might be a Bollywood fan... but I am a sci-fi fan! :D
I could hardly believe my ears when I heard that there had been a remake of "V" !!!
Some people might remember it from the mid 1980s? I was vaguely aware that the series existed, but not allowed to watch it, by my parents.. lol. I think it was the only sci-fi series that ran on Swedish TV for the entire 1980s. It holds a special place for me, because of that.
johanna & strarrysky...
I missed your posting about "V"
If you go back in this thread to Sun Oct 11, 2009, I wrote about how Ken Johnson the original creator of V was going to be in Russia!
Johanna.... Interesting how your mom would not let you watch "V".. and there I was on the set of it!!!
I watched the first episode of the new series, but have not seen any more of it. Not because I did not like it... just time, health and other issues...
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Urgh, those letters look nasty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
Does Russia / Ukraine have anything like this, or is everything financed by ads?
Hmmm... I think we do pay but indirectly. Since the central channels are supposedly "pro-government," I s'pose they might be getting some money from it. Then, you know this new film by Mikhalkov that everyone is so displeased with -- he was given $50 mlns or something to do it. I think I even read complaints somewhere on the net on that score.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
Personally I think it's ridiculous - they ought to just slam it on the taxes and assume that everyone has a TV.
So, you mean the working guys should pay for everyone having their TVs?
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crocodile
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
Personally I think it's ridiculous - they ought to just slam it on the taxes and assume that everyone has a TV.
So, you mean the working guys should pay for everyone having their TVs?
Yes; everyone who pays tax.
I support state TV because it is better than commercial TV. Compare BBC news with Sky...
And it's free of ads, which is good. State TV broadcast good quality domestic and foreign programming with no ads.
But to run state TV they need money and there are really only two options in a market economy: 1) Licence fee 2) get the money from taxes.
I am saying that I think it's better to take it from taxes than the insane license system.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crocodile
So, you mean the working guys should pay for everyone having their TVs?
Working guys always pay social taxes for everyone having medical care and for incapable and handicapped persons to support their life.
The point is quite different for me. If I pay taxes and these taxes are used for a state TV. I, as a tax payer, can write angry letters if I don't like what I see with this TV (not sure if these letters will have any effect at all, but I have the right to write it). But what I see with license fee looks as the TV channel has no any responsibility for its products because the viewers will pay for it anyway.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoffeeCup
Working guys always pay social taxes for everyone having medical care and for incapable and handicapped persons to support their life.
That's true. So, do we deem the TV ownership as essential as the medical care? :tease:
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoffeeCup
If I pay taxes and these taxes are used for a state TV. I, as a tax payer, can write angry letters if I don't like what I see with this TV (not sure if these letters will have any effect at all, but I have the right to write it). But what I see with license fee looks as the TV channel has no any responsibility for its products because the viewers will pay for it anyway.
I'm pretty sure the angry letters will have no effect in either case. The only way a media could be affected is through another [competing] media. And the state TV is fully controlled by the state officials, so if you don't like the content of the state TV, write angry letters to your regional MP whose office might at least be interested in replying to you. :instruct:
PS. Whoa! I can make any thread political, can't I? "The rest is silence." :roll:
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crocodile
PS. Whoa! I can make any thread political, can't I? "The rest is silence." :roll:
Yes, Croc.. you are :thanks: "The man! A God among men! You rock! You rule..... we worship your amazing brain power and witty skills (actually, I do!)." :thanks:
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
rockzmom, you got me all blushing. There isn't so much brain power, really. :oops: :ache:
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Finally I found the Movies thread! I was looking for it in "Culture" part of the forum
I love Soviet movies, but I occassionally need a break from people randomly breaking out into song. :wink:
A movie that doesn't seem to be mentioned and that I just watched the other night -- "Mechanic Gavrilov's Beloved Woman" (Любимая женщина механика Гаврилова) (1981) -- has the great Lyudmila Gurchenko and no random singing! A great little "day-in-the-life-of" movie about a middle-aged woman that is about to get married, but the groom doesn't show up. The only let-down was the finale -- it added some melodrama to the "slice of life" feel. Not sure if there are English subtitles, but if there are and you enjoy slice-of-life dramas, check this movie out.
Directed by Pyotr Todorovsky, whom you might know as the director of "Interdevotchka" (see it, if you haven't yet!!).
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
I saw Sex and the City 2 (the movie).
Work offered tickets to the London premiere and I felt I had to go because one particular colleague was incredibly keen for the two of us to go together.
To sum it up: This film was terrible!
It had next to no plot apart from the girls going to the Abu Dhabi.
Most of the film was about:
1) How incredibly luxurious everything was in the UAE... (while tons of third world people are working there as domestic servants -- discussed in the film with a very flimsy and arrogant view...)
2) How "frigid" the people in the UAE are... (apparently you have to cover up just a tiny bit and can not make out in public places -- big deal!!!)
3) Carrie meets Aidan (old fling) while there and kisses him. Gets bad conscience and calls up "Big" (her husband) and tells him about it. Big gets a bit upset but ends up insisting that Carrie wears a super elegant wedding ring as a "punishment" (previously she had refused to wear a wedding ring).
That's essentially the whole plot. The stereotypes about the Middle east are just one tiny step from those old films where a European put some shoecream in his face and pretended to be a "negroe". It was incredibly silly. These women should definitely stay in New York!
Not even the fashion was that great in my view or maybe I am not fully up to date with the latest fashion....
I give the film 2 out of 5.
The only thing that makes the film worth watching is "Big" who is attractive and cool and played by a good actor.
If anyone wants to watch it, I suggest they wait and get a pirated copy online; it isn't worth the price of a cinema ticket by far!
Incidentally at this premier they were checking all large bags for camcorders, would you believe!!!!
http://www.accidentalsexiness.com/wp...9/12/satc2.jpg
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
SatC is so wrong on so many levels.
Although, I assume this latest installment would have great medicinal value as a soporific.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
Incidentally at this premier they were checking all large bags for camcorders, would you believe!!!!
Oh no, one of my pet peeves -- premier vs. premiere
Premier in the sense of "first, earliest" is an adjective; the noun premier means prime minister
Premiere (noun) means first performance
I see this use of "premier" in the media more and more and it makes me weep :sad:
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
All of Scandinavia has the same policy; not sure about elsewhere in Europe. Personally I think it's ridiculous - they ought to just slam it on the taxes and assume that everyone has a TV.
Germany has it as well. There are a first and second channel, as well as various regional third channels, all of which are financed by a fee which you have to pay if you own at least one TV set. Radio stations are paid out of that as well, you only pay for them specifically though if you have no TV. Anyone other than a private household has to pay for each device (radio, TV). I actually once overheard a man from the organization which collects that fee in a computer shop who asked the owner not only to pay the fee for the TV he used to demo console games, but also for each TV-capable graphics card in the shop, even those on the shelves.
There is discussion of a 'head fee' which is supposed to cover all media use, to a certain extent even copying stuff, but I don't see it succeed.
Robin
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by bitpicker
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
All of Scandinavia has the same policy; not sure about elsewhere in Europe. Personally I think it's ridiculous - they ought to just slam it on the taxes and assume that everyone has a TV.
Germany has it as well. There are a first and second channel, as well as various regional third channels, all of which are financed by a fee which you have to pay if you own at least one TV set.
One more thing on this theme... I am FURIOUS because there was this great archive of recorded films of Swedish films on an ftp server... Basically the owner recorded practically every film that ran on Swedish state TV for about 12 years.
His project had been that he transferred all of it to digital and shared with Swedish film geeks. The benefit was that some of the films were very rare and they all had hard coded subs in Swedish.
The server was ordered by country and year and he had a whole section of Russian speaking films, at least one film I would like to watch but which I know has no subs available online.
His argument was "Me and everyone else who watches these films were license payers at the time when they ran on TV, therefore it was legal to record them and share them with "friends" via invitation!
The site had no glossy interface just ftp archive and he made no money from it and didn't even ask for donations.
But he had shared some material that was copyrighted, and the copyright holders did not agree with his view on the licensing covering for the viewing cost. The police raided his house and took his servers.
Not only is this a TERRIBLE thing to happen to a nice public spirited man who went to enormous lengths of trouble to record and transfer the films, but me (stupid :wall: ) had not thought to download more than about 3 films from his Russian section.
Most of these films are not available with any subs at all, and were "rare" films. It's hard enough to find any decent Swedish subs for Russian films, I have to get the English subs and it's only a fraction of the Russian films that even have subs at all. He had at least a hundred Russian films.
To be honest I had planned to download a bunch of the films and upload them to swetorrents of pirate bay.. but I didn't get around to it. Now this man will have to pay a massive fine and probably won't dare take the site up again. He did not have quite the coolness of the Pirate Bay and was not out to make a political statement.
This project was very cool -- he had all sorts of very rare films not only from Russia but across Europe, and they ruined it just because he was so stupid as to share some Hollywood films.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
I saw Sex and the City 2 (the movie).
Was the first movie good?
I had similar reaction to the "Shopaholic" film -- totally hated it. I liked the book -- it was quite funny and ironic and reading it in English probably added to its interest but the film I thought was awful... Well, maybe not awful but so different from the book -- the whole set-up changed to New York instead of London... Wrong lead actor...
I've never also seen a single episode of Sex and the City. I mean, why would I watch a series about four women? lol I'm not into women. And these actresses didn't seem very interesting look-wise. I dunno... Just not natural. I adored "Friends", though. And some other stuff like "The O.C." and "Gilmore Girls", of which I've seen only one or two seasons. It's been such a long time since I've seen any American stuff, actually, be it a film or a sitcom.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by starrysky
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johanna
I saw Sex and the City 2 (the movie).
Was the first movie good?
I have seen most of the episodes of the TV series. (yeah... admit... :oops:)
It is TERRIBLY materialistic, decadent etc but also fun and entertaining.
But it's a bit like ice cream which tastes good at first but is not real food and can be sickening in large quantities...
The point is that the four women have quite different personalities and priorities in life. And different fashion sense. You could argue they are all quite messed up and very loose too.... There is a big theme about the different types of guys they date. They sleep with a new guy in almost every episode.
The other point is to show off a lot of fashion, particularly shoes... A lot of women I knew got pretty stressed out about feeling that they ought to have clothes by the same designers as Carrie in the series. Many womens magazines here in the UK ran a feature on the fashion featured in the latest episode.
I never saw the first film because frankly that series had its' time and a film just seemed silly. The conclusion of the series left it exactly where it should end and no further spin on the story was needed.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
I have seen most of the episodes of the TV series. (yeah... admit... :oops:)
It is TERRIBLY materialistic, decadent etc but also fun and entertaining.
Nothing wrong about it. :wink: Since I haven't seen a single episode and can't judge I can readily believe it's entertaining. But yeah, materialistic is not something I enjoy first and foremost... Though you could say "Shopaholic" was quite materialistic and yet fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
They sleep with a new guy in almost every episode.
That's... nice. :D But I suppose they are still searching for "true love" all the time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
The other point is to show off a lot of fashion, particularly shoes... A lot of women I knew got pretty stressed out about feeling that they ought to have clothes by the same designers as Carrie in the series. Many womens magazines here in the UK ran a feature on the fashion featured in the latest episode.
Ouch.
Johanna, you've totally freaked me out with your new nickname! :-) I thought we've got a new member with a similar name!
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
I just realised that I have been sharing some opinions and even professional comments... The net (and the world) can be very small and I don't want anything I say here to haunt me at a later date. It's particularly complicated for work really, that's all. This is a nickname for my regular name, but I don't use it in England.
Hope it doesn't sound strange or something in Russian?
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
I just realised that I have been sharing some opinions and even professional comments... The net (and the world) can be very small and I don't want anything I say here to haunt me at a later date. It's particularly complicated for work really, that's all. This is a nickname for my regular name, but I don't use it in England.
Hope it doesn't sound strange or something in Russian?
Is this because of my PM ??
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
No, no! It was silly of me to sign up with my own name, hardly anyone is stupid enough to do that. Some people don't even want to say where they live. That said, those who i consider to be friends here already know my real name and I'd be more than happy to meet up with any of them in real life... But it's quite a different thing if some colleague or friend happened to stumble in on this forum and thought "hey I know her, I can't believe she is saying xyz". I just seriously dissed my job and even their hospitality gifts (movie premiere tickets and such... )
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
No, no! It was silly of me to sign up with my own name, hardly anyone is stupid enough to do that. Some people don't even want to say where they live. That said, those who i consider to be friends here already know my real name and I'd be more than happy to meet up with any of them in real life... But it's quite a different thing if some colleague or friend happened to stumble in on this forum and thought "hey I know her, I can't believe she is saying xyz". I just seriously dissed my job and even their hospitality gifts (movie premiere tickets and such... )
I totally understand that. I never disclose much about myself online (I dont even have social networks accounts) as in my field (academia) things you say might haunt you for a long time and will hurt your job prospects.
I guess it was a coincidence (my PM and your name switch).
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Too funny Spanish with Russian subtitles!!! I can't win!!! http://www.megavideo.com/?d=2MMYXGNN :wall:
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
I saw a great show which I want to recommend to sci-fi fans:
"Caprica"
It's a spinoff of "Battlestar Galactica" and very cleverly done in my view. It raises some issues which are relevant at present, but set them in the future, on the planet "Caprica" prior to the events that are shown in "Battlestar Galactica".
It shows the birth of artificial intelligence in form of the Cylons; what motivates the creation of them.. and it features a sort of alternative online world, like a 3D/holographic internet, and the teen culture that springs up around it.
Basically if you like sci-fi, you'll enjoy this series!
Women will like it, because some of the most interesting characters are female.
I think it was made by a channel called "Syfy" (USA) - In Europe it's showing on the Scifi channel and of course, available to download. Recommended.
http://tardisrol.files.wordpress.com...a-caratula.jpg
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
An obscure review: I saw a Swedish TV film by SVT (state TV) called "Ryska dörren" (The Russian door). This film had some funny moments, but on the whole, I give it only 1 star out of 5.
:no:
Allegedly it is based on a true story.
Trailer:http://www.framestation.se/drd.swf
http://svt.se/content/1/c8/01/92/47/...a-dorren-3.jpg
The film is from last year, but it is supposed to take place in 1990 or perhaps 1989. The plot is that a Swedish man from the North is a bus driver on a long distance coach from Kiruna (Sweden) to Murmansk (Russia/USSR). During his stopover in Murmansk he meets a Russian woman (guide/interpreter) whom he falls in love with. However her mother is suspicious towards him, because he is a foreigner. The guide lives with her son, at her mothers' place.
The bus driver learns that the guides' mother needs to replace the front door to her flat, but is having trouble finding a replacement and getting it installed. He makes a promise to her that he will deliver a first-class door to her, and install it himself (so that she will realise that he is a good person...)
However the delivery of the door gets delayed due to bureacracy in Sweden, Finland and Russia (this bit is quite funny). In order to meet all the necessary bureacratic requirements, he has no choice but to make the door himself, from scratch.
Meanwhile the alcoholic and corrupt manager of the bus company fires the bus driver, and he is no longer able to travel to Murmansk due to travel restrictions of the time - it requires a special permission.
In order to be able to get back there, only one option exists, he needs to get on a workers' cultural exchange. For this, he first needs to get involved in a local socialist organisation. He is not a serious socialist, but fakes it... (this part is also funny, particularly a scene where some USSR citizens visit Sweden on an exchange going the other way.)
The bus drivers' efforts at getting on the cultural exchange pays off. He ends up actually smuggling the door with him into Russia, while on the cultural exchange...
Against all odds, with plenty of drama, he is able to deliver and install the door, and that's the end of the film.
The topic of the film is a bit strange to say the least. Two things seriously irritated me about it:
1) The bus driver could only speak very rudimentary Russian and frequently switches to English when he can't find the words in Russian.
2) How could there have been a coach to Murmansk while the USSR existed..! And who precisely would have used it??
3) The bus driver has a totally lame personality. Why would the smart and pretty Russian guide fall for him?! Makes little sense.
All and all, this film was interesting insight into how people lived in Northern Sweden and in Murmansk in the 1980s.
The extreme boozing culture in all three countries is realistic for sure... All the scenes from Murmansk were filmed there, so far as I could tell.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
3) The bus driver has a totally lame personality. Why would the smart and pretty Russian guide fall for him?! Makes little sense.
Russian proverb: "Любовь зла - полюбишь и козла".
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
I have a question to Hanna here, tell me, please, does he speaks real Swedish or just rubbish?
http://video.mail.ru/mail/aitova077/803/809.html
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
It's rubbish!! :wall:
Well actually, it is some "German" words, basically says "I am sent by the Swedish king...", then mostly nonsense, or maybe my German is not the best... What's the name of this film? I have seen it ages ago (198x) and remember thinking how silly it was that in all of Russia they couldn't find anyone who could say a few simple sentences in Swedish... Replacing our beautiful language for mock German??!! :shock: But it happens in American films to...
Plus, can we have that area back please? :mosking: Didn't *really* mean to declare war on Russia.. it was just a misunderstanding.... Is Kemsk the Russian name for the area that Vyborg is in?
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
Is Kemsk the Russian name for the area that Vyborg is in?
No, the city of Kem (Kemi in Finnish) is located almost on the shores of the White See, and Vyborg, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. Vyborg belonged to Sweden once, but I am not sure about Kem (I know that the lands around Kem were raided and ravaged by Swedish troops at one point, but I am not sure if they managed to keep the area for long)
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Oh ok.. Gosh you really know your history! Sweden actually built that castle there in Vyborg; it was a big deal in school history, because it's located at a strategically important point -- whoever holds it controls the whole area.
I am a bit hazy on exactly what happened around that time, but to sum it up; Sweden declared war on Russia because it wanted some lands somewhere in Western Russia. And because the king at the time was about 18 years old and really wanted to fight Russia... (there is a very famous poem about that..)
But Russia won the war and took Finland and part of the Baltic states from Sweden. Can't remember the exact details.
EDIT: I just checked this... Apparently Russia took 1/3 of Sweden's entire territory at the time!! This was 1809.
All this is considered a great tragedy in Sweden, although some people also say it's good, because we haven't really been in any major wars since then, which has been good for the country.
I read in Swedish papers that there is a recent Russian film about the major RU-SE battle that took place 100 years before that. (Narva)
We should stick to playing icehockey with Russia, I think..........
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
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Originally Posted by Hanna
It's rubbish!! :wall:
[...]
I have seen it ages ago (198x) and remember thinking how silly it was that in all of Russia they couldn't find anyone who could say a few simple sentences in Swedish... Replacing our beautiful language for mock German??!! :shock: But it happens in American films to...
It's a (slapstick) comedy, so they probably did not even try to be authentic. :roll: I won't be surprised if they have invented this gibberish purely for comic effect. Цигель, цигель, ай-лю-лю. ))
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
I read in Swedish papers that there is a recent Russian film about the major RU-SE battle that took place 100 years before that. (Narva)
I'm guessing it's The Sovereign's Servant (English title) or Слуга государев. Swedish wikipedia lol
I've been meaning to see this for a while. Is it any good, anyone? I heard it was pretty bad.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
I read in Swedish papers that there is a recent Russian film about the major RU-SE battle that took place 100 years before that. (Narva)
I didn't watched the film but reviews says it's rather bad so I haven't a big desire to watch it. If you want a really good stuff about Geart Northern War from the Russian point of view I highly reccomend you to read the epic novel by Alexey Tolstoy "Peter I". It's one of my favorite books and I read it about 10 times. :oops: The last part of it describes early years of Northern War, including big chapters about Karl XII, his court and even his everyday life. The novel was translated in English in case you feel it's hard for you yet to go though this really BIG thing in Russian. The book was "filmatised" several times, but I didn't exactly liked the films comparing to the book.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Wow, thanks for the tip!
I am so impressed by the history skills of many people on this forum, including you...
I did not actually know about this book, but now I'm really intrigued. It's got to be exceptional if you have read it that many times...
(edit, the book is available in Swedish actually, but hasn't been reprinted for a while. The title is Tsar Peter. Interesting author -- he writes both scifi and historical novels!)
Also I did not know that this war was called "Great Northern" in Russia.
Frankly, I have always wondered why Karl XII is considered a hero king. He should NOT have attacked Russia... I don't know the details of this precisely. Sweden had a great position in Northern Europe and I don't think Russia was even interested in challenging that. So why did he declare war? I really don't know. But because of his greed and bad judgment everything was lost.
There was practically a personality cult around this king for a while.. Nowadays extreme nationalists, skinheads, nazis etc absolutely revere him still... Don't get why... Just because there are some cheezy poems about someone does not make him great.
Sweden has had some great kings, but in my view he was NOT one of them and I really don't understand the big deal about somebody who lost an empire through bad judgment.
pointing towards his doom...
http://www.nd.se/_upload/9D6C6.jpg
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
Frankly, I have always wondered why Karl XII is considered a hero king. He should NOT have attacked Russia... I don't know the details of this precisely. Sweden had a great position in Northern Europe and I don't think Russia was even interested in challenging that. [b]So why did he declare war?
Baltic Sea. That's the reason. Peter was trying very hard to establish a foothold on its banks. If you look at the map of the Scandinavian peninsula you'll see that the only naval trade route was from Archangelsk which meant moving in the extreme north around the peninsula to mainland Europe. Russia had no ports in the Baltic sea and Sweden ruled these waters. Karl XII was trying to ban Peter's access to the Baltic Sea in this war. St. Petersburg is Russia's 'window' to Europe exactly because of that - the shortest naval way to Europe starts there.
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
What's the name of this film? I have seen it ages ago (198x) and remember thinking how silly it was that in all of Russia they couldn't find anyone who could say a few simple sentences in Swedish... Replacing our beautiful language for mock German??!! :shock: ?
It's "Иван Васильевич меняет профессию".
The whole story was a dream of Shurik, an amateur physicists injured during an experiment. The Ambassador couldn't speak Swedish because Shurik could not do it, apparently. :)
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Re: Films & TV: Russian & Non - Q&As/Reviews/Links all in he
Oh yes, thanks! That film is on the top one hundred in the thread "Greatest hits of Russian cinema". There are so many Russian films I'd like to watch but I decided to start with newer films.