This is a great film, with wonderful performances from all the 3 lead actors. The film is based on a play in which Mashkov, the director, acted on stage in Moscow. A young musician, David, is growing up in a small town in Ukraine in the 1930s, and dreams of going to Moscow to train as a violinist, a dream which his alcoholic single father supports. Their relationship is strained, and when David finally leaves for Moscow he puts his past behind him and starts a new life. On a day in which all his dreams seem to be coming true, he is again confronted by his father, and his reaction is one that he later regrets. The theme of fatherhood seems to be one close to Mashkov's heart, as his first film as director (he has a long and extremely impressive CV as an actor in Russia, though is probably best known in the West for his lead in the Russian film "Thief", which got an international release, and an Oscar nomination if I remember rightly) and as the Serbian sniper in the US film Behind Enemy Lines), "Sirota Kazanskaya", also looked at this theme, though in a different way. That film was much more sentimental, and was a comedy, whereas this is very different. The first time I watched the film it seemed to be very bitty (there are three different segments, each set within a single day: childhood in Tulchin, student in Moscow, and adult during the Second World War), but having seen it again, it seemed less so, and flowed more. There are some really beautiful shots - the cinematographer deserves much credit for this film, and great acting. Both the actors who play David are wonderful,and both pretty much newcomers, particularly to roles of this size, though Yegor Beroyev (David as an adult) seems to be on the threshold of great success in Russia. Mashkov appears to take great delight in completely hiding his good looks and completely convincingly playing an old man, as he has done on stage since his graduation from drama school. The film has been criticised for playing too much for the international market and overplaying the whole communist context, and there is an introduction to the Moscow segment with a bit too much red - banners, balloons etc, but I think only that one segment could be considered to be gilding the lily, and indeed can be forgiven for being so beautifully shot. The other references are realistic and play an integral part in David's internal conflict. This film is also refreshing in that it doesn't try and explain everything or tie up all the loose ends. Life isn't neat and tidy and we rarely know all the whys and wherefores! Different people have very different opinions about this film, but I was impressed, and bought the DVD! I don't know what kind of international release this film has had or will get, but if you get the chance, watch it!
Review of Daddy
