I see a lot of reviewers are discussing the socio-political and religio-cultural aspects of this film. Well, I'm a historical dimwit, so I won't touch that stuff. Instead I'll tell you what I experienced artistically.
I found the pace to be perfect. Perhaps it will be considered slow to some, but I thought it was just right for the subject presented. Cinematography was wonderful. I was especially impressed to see smooth and graceful camera work, perhaps indicative of a high budget which is rare amongst east European art films. Overall, I thought this film was very polished yet not too glossy.
Now the bad. In contrast to the magnificent visuals, the music was rather uninspiring. I don't think the piano (which constitutes 75% of the score) was a real piano, but rather it sounded like a computer-scored midi instrument. Either that or the person playing the piano had all the emotion of a grapefruit. Either way, it sounded a little too much like a cheap Hallmark greeting card commercial or an ABC afterschool special. It's a shame that with all the rich musical history of great Russian composers they settled for a bland soundtrack to compliment this film.
The acting... Although it was quite engaging, I don't feel that it was nearly as stellar as some people tell you. In particular, there were several missed opportunities where a subtle pause could have made all the difference in presentation, but the actor rushed through the scene instead. The climactic scene of the movie could have been absolutely phenomenal, but instead it passes by so uneventfully that you're left wondering if it really happened. So while the performances weren't *bad*, they certainly weren't Brando.
But these small flaws (music, acting) become trivial when set against the gorgeous landscape and the carefully designed sets, costumes and other visual aspects. I think most people who aren't scrutinizing the movie will enjoy it for its pure message in the old Shakespearian tradition that says the greatest wisdom comes from the mouths of fools. Definitely an interesting watch, but not quite good enough to see twice.
I found the pace to be perfect. Perhaps it will be considered slow to some, but I thought it was just right for the subject presented. Cinematography was wonderful. I was especially impressed to see smooth and graceful camera work, perhaps indicative of a high budget which is rare amongst east European art films. Overall, I thought this film was very polished yet not too glossy.
Now the bad. In contrast to the magnificent visuals, the music was rather uninspiring. I don't think the piano (which constitutes 75% of the score) was a real piano, but rather it sounded like a computer-scored midi instrument. Either that or the person playing the piano had all the emotion of a grapefruit. Either way, it sounded a little too much like a cheap Hallmark greeting card commercial or an ABC afterschool special. It's a shame that with all the rich musical history of great Russian composers they settled for a bland soundtrack to compliment this film.
The acting... Although it was quite engaging, I don't feel that it was nearly as stellar as some people tell you. In particular, there were several missed opportunities where a subtle pause could have made all the difference in presentation, but the actor rushed through the scene instead. The climactic scene of the movie could have been absolutely phenomenal, but instead it passes by so uneventfully that you're left wondering if it really happened. So while the performances weren't *bad*, they certainly weren't Brando.
But these small flaws (music, acting) become trivial when set against the gorgeous landscape and the carefully designed sets, costumes and other visual aspects. I think most people who aren't scrutinizing the movie will enjoy it for its pure message in the old Shakespearian tradition that says the greatest wisdom comes from the mouths of fools. Definitely an interesting watch, but not quite good enough to see twice.