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Bespredel (1989)
Up and down with authority
Late Soviet Union had a lot in common with modern Western liberals. Obsessed with "doing the right thing" and being on the "right side of history", it limited the realistic portrayals of people, pushed the desired role models, and in doing so produced a lot of infantile people who could self-identify as atheists and simultaneously believe in the ability of people like Alan Chumak and Anatoly Kashpirovsky to telepathically charge the regular water with paranormal healing abilities through television sessions.
Only after 1987, some authors were allowed to begin the exploration of actual human relations. One of these explorations resulted in what I consider to be one of the most scientifically correct non-documentary motion pictures about intra-male relationships: "Bespredel", meaning "Outrage" in English. Not to be confused with another must-see film, Takeshi Kitano's "Outrage"/"Autoreiji", the most philosophically nihilist film I've ever seen, which made a great effort at excluding all types of moralization and presenting the struggle for power in the purest form. Soviet "Outrage" instead focuses on biological determinism and behavioral patterns of wildly different men in a forced secluded environment also known as prison. It is freely available on YouTube but has no proper subtitles there, so I wouldn't recommend watching it there unless you find a way to attach subtitles. Auto-translated captions won't handle the nuances and slang.
Prison culture is one of the foundations of Stalin's and post-Stalin USSR, modern post-Soviet countries. It is employed by Putin's regime as an essential part of his Eurasian conservatism and, sadly, it is not always actively fought against in Ukraine. Tsarist Russian Empire and Lenin's USSR had various authoritarian tendencies but sexual attitudes were more or less chill. Various sexual niches, which are considered "perverse" today, were openly practiced back then. The church never liked it, but the legal punishment was mostly class-based, with higher classes being allowed almost everything and proles/peasants having to serve an occasional, not very severe jail term to calm down religious fanatics. Changes came after Stalin was forced to react to the spread of first-wave feminism across the globe. Just as brothels were closing down across the United States and becoming new Benjamin Franklin was no longer possible, NKVD managed to make pimps, once a respectable caste in a criminal world, untouchables. A new social system of suppression had to be installed both in the freshly constructed GULAG and outside of it. It relied on a hierarchy where state administration is above everyone, controls and cooperates with physically strong men, who have the monopoly on cooperating with administration, who also promote the idea that cooperating with the administration is dishonorable, preventing weaker men from overburdening the system.
Let's return to the movie. The protagonist is nicknamed "Philatelist", as he is a physically weak, overtly smart nerd who gets jailed for selling post stamps incorrectly. The modern analog of such punishment is getting jailed for something related to World of Warcraft. Seasoned inmates are so unused to this type of guy that many of them say that they've never encountered anyone like him before. I do believe them. The film is set in the 80s and the only time when such types were jailed en masse was the Great Purge. Afterward, the Soviets generally avoided doing so precisely for the reasons depicted in this movie: it's too much trouble. Prisons love simple people.
Being too open-minded for his own good, Philatelist starts talking with everyone without discrimination. He's lucky enough to befriend a "muzhyk" (dude/lad, average man from the middle caste) called Kalgan, who barely prevents him from eating his first prison meal at the separate table for untouchables or "petukhi" (literal meaning roosters, the closest anglophone term is nonces). Kalgan introduces him to the respectable muzhyky caste instead and Philatelist gets to live and work more or less in peace until he encounters the highest tier of the prison world: "blatnye" (favored). Defining characteristic of blatnye is the ability not to work but still eat. Philatelist gets enraged that he and his fellow muzhyky must sweat while blatnye are laying around for days, smoking and cracking jokes. He tries to bring it up to the yawning administration officer, who imitates involvement to some point but quickly gets tired of it. Then he's visited by "shesterkas" (number six, those blatnye who do menial tasks for "pakhan", second in command of blatnye, muscular enforcer) who do "preventive conversation" with him or in other words beating up. Trying to make sense of what's happening he meets with "glavpakhan" (intellectual member of blatnye, decision maker and holder of monopoly on guaranteed direct contact with prison administration) called Prince (Knyaz). He asks Prince: "If someone does unjust things, can I decide what should be done myself?". Prince smiles condescendingly and replies: "Who are you to decide anything? You should bring the matter before me and I shall decide".
Of course, Prince thought that blatnye not working, beatings up of weak muzhyky, unfair distribution of goods, and other in-your-face discriminatory things are not a problem. What is a problem is Philatelist asking too many questions and spreading discontent among muzhyky. After a green light from the administration, he orders pakhan called Mogol to make Philatelist untouchable, petukh. Despite being an unruly brute, Mogol seems to genuinely respect the criminal honor code and initially tries to object, saying that there is nothing known about Philatelist that justifies his humiliation. Prince orders to invent something.
What happens later is for you to learn, if you decide to watch this film. What I would like to do is to re-highlight qualities which are needed to become a member of respective castes.
Administration: be employed by the state.
Glavpakhan: agree with the need to covertly enforce the will of administration, be a respectable criminal according to the Stalin's/NKVD hierarchy of criminals (murderer, thief), be well versed in both legal and criminal codes of conduct, sociology, have successful businesses or legacies outside of prison, be physically strong if young (physical weakness is allowed to elderly).
Pakhan: apprentice of glavpakhan. Must be younger than him, physically stronger, able to inflict immense amounts of pain barehanded, must only do so in rare cases when shesterkas aren't managing to control the situation themselves, must be the judge of most matters except the most complex and dangerous, which he forwards to glavpakhan.
Shesterkas: must please pakhan, do menial jobs for him, do most of the harassing, beating up and bullying, must never present themselves as judges, and ask permission of pakhan for everything.
Muzhyky: must work, share their earnings with all the above categories who don't work, must not communicate with petukhi, must join the raids of blatnye against petukhi whenever blatnye expect them to. The most numerous and cowardly caste, only acts out if authority forces them to or if petukh successfully enrages them about the injustice they did not care about before.
Petukhi: be a disrespectable criminal according to the Stalin's/NKVD hierarchy of criminals (pimp, gigolo, political prisoner), be a sexual minority, must do all the disrespectable work (clean toilets), must not communicate with anyone except other petukhi. Percentage should not exceed 10% of the prison population. A bigger percentage puts the competence of administration and blatnye into question and thus endangers them.
Glavpetukh: the head of petukhi who doesn't have the guaranteed ear of administration like glavpakhan does, but is allowed not to work just like blatnye. Responsible for keeping petukhi pacified, eternally promising them "revolution in two years". In the movie the most active and sociable petukh is called Moydodyr (literal meaning - wash it until the holes appear). He is surprisingly prevented from joining the anti-blatnye revolt by the previously silent, unseen glavpetukh Khripaty. This almost missable scene is intended to highlight that even among petukhi there's no escape from authority and attempts at suppressing individual agency.
The movie "Bespredel" efficiently showcases how abilities and disabilities shape the place of men among other men. It doesn't condemn anyone really and makes you think about better modes of operation than those of the movie characters. If you're Philatelist - you should assure the support of at least some shesterkas instead of relying on muzhyky so thoroughly. If you're Mogol you can use such a situation to unseat Prince and keep the peace in prison. And if you're Moydodyr, you will understand the fragility of hierarchy better.
Histoire d'O (1975)
The Story of O. Obsession.
"Autumn was coming". One of the first phrases in the film, spoken against the background of a young couple walking hand in hand. As it will become clear later, the autumn of their biology-based relationship was approaching.
Character of a uniquely demonic German actor - Udo Kier - seeks adventure and sincere devotion. He predated the currently popular "theme" of cuckoldism, where spiritual loyalty is regularly tested by physical unfaithfulness. Conservative men are unlikely to understand the meaning of this quote: "sleeping with other men, she belonged only to him." And why does this character, who would otherwise be called tyrant by modern female psychologists, wants this. The logic here is that when the girl returns from another man, she confirms your superiority over him. And when she does not, she confirms his superiority. Of course, this only works with a high-level, sought-after girl of model appearance. The kind that any lover would want to keep for himself forever. Next door type of girls is suitable only for leisure and the only thing which infidelity of such girl can prove is her own infirmity.
However, O is obliged to say thanks to the "cuckold" for the patronage in the form of getting directly to the highest level - the castle in Roissy, bypassing the school for young and inexperienced in Samois-sur-Seine. Literary source makes it clear that this does not happen usually. Difference between the two places is significant. First one is patriarchal, hedonistic, with a touch of the Renaissance and antiquity, exquisite food, and sexy styles of clothing. Second one is matriarchal, Victorian, ascetic, with a hot iron, infantile dresses, suppressed and open lesbianism. Heroine experienced the suffering of second place in the privileged status of Roissy visitor. This immediately made her an alpha female in Samois and also provided an inner core, which allowed her to set the tone in the subsequent relationship, without formally leaving the status of a sex slave.
The main heroine floats through time and space for most of the story. Soft focus of the camera was borrowed by Just Jaeckin from the trendy photographer and owner of Penthouse magazine Bob Guccione, who shot in this way during the 70s. It emphasizes the evanescence, semi-fabulousness, and fragility of what is happening.
It's a paradox, but the more undeservedly you get something, the more intimate and romantic are the feelings you experience. The more conscientiously you work, the more mundane and boring are your earnings. Sugar babies who ask big money just for their beauty, and not even for sex, understand this well. Like the heroes of socialist labor, who were traded for dissidents at the rate of 1,000 to 1. "Normal" girls become "owls," the anti-thesis of the sacrificial lamb, through the victory over the natural female duality. "She wanted it to end as soon as possible. She wanted it to never end." I have seen such a state quite often and as a rule, it was a green flag. Signal that you can move to a new level of intimacy. Confusion of feelings indicates their presence. But for a full-fledged enthronement of femininity, it is necessary to choose an unambiguous yes, no matter how attractive such a suspension may be felt.
Sir Stephen owes a lot to his status. Philosophy and ingenuity, when naked, divorced from materialism and money, are never enough for an aging man. Even charm and style are asexual in themselves. In seducing elite girls half your age they can only serve as an appendage to opportunities you're able to create. Such people neither party around nor settle down, because such relationships cannot be called debauchery or leisure. This is a mutual upgrade in understanding yourself and those around you. Only dying and ceasing to live could be interested in stopping it.
It is unclear whether the semi-rape he committed would have worked this favorably, had it happened in a simpler setting. But having good real estate, connections, the favor of the school matron - such things change attitudes. Help the chosen girl to accept the exclusive stigma.
It is not known how long such a family hearth will burn. But life expectancy is also impossible to predict.
Too Old to Die Young (2019)
Symbolically advanced and unusally honest Cybelist agitprop
Despite glorifying asexual, anti-male Anglo culture, creators are honest about its opposition. This show can be seen as esoteric prediction of what will happen with all these spiritually eclectic Dianas and her simps in near future. Jesus the Red, a.k.a. combination of Catholicism and Roman polytheism, will drown his enemies in a sea of blood and an age of Dionysus will begin. "Beings", a.k.a. agents of Cybele, will be returned to the underground depths once again. Apollonist Chads will be providing pleasure to unattractive men for eternity.
Thank you Nicholas for offering the insights into the plans of your faction. Unusually brave.
Tskhovreba Don Kikhotisa da Sancho Panchosi (1988)
Masterpiece
One of the very best Georgian movies ever made, this free adaptation of Cervantes' classic book is a really outstanding achievement in history of cinematography. This is not a "mini" as this site tries to tell us, but a very long movie sometimes partitioned for TV. "Zhitiye Don Kikhota i Sancho" is not actually a usual adaptation but a saga on it's own, so if you're a fan of classic Don Quixote then be prepared for a lot of very interesting and unexpectable subplots.
When it was released in Soviet Union it was unappreciated by many, I guess that because late 80's it's a time of changes for soviet people, so a slow idealistic thoughts depicted in this film were not in the right time and place. In XXI century it can be viewed without prejudgments, so a lot of art pleasure and even nostalgia comes with it. Russian dubbing may even overcome original Georgian version, because Armen Dzhigarkhanian's voice is really suited and also it was perhaps the best Russian dubbing in history. It's a shame that Russians, Ukrainians and Georgians lost their friendship after collapse of Soviet Union, so movies likes this can remind to a young generations what a wonderful relations we had.
One of my favorites, this is an immortal masterpiece.
Avalon (2001)
Blank film
When I was a kid, I loved reading books very much. I remember reading a tale by some italian author, in which respected writer made a new book containing blank pages and nothing more. Everyone hailed this book almost as Bible and even more.This movie is like that book - blank.
It's not bad/good, smart/stupid. It's nothing. Crap like Matrix at least tried to tell some "philosophic" ideas, you can't blame them for unsuccessful trying. Avalon does not trying to tell, show or explain. It has nothing!
I'm almost a fan of Polish and Japanese cinema, still I can understand why these great film-making countries united to make this piece of trash. Japan is not proficient in science-fiction movies, while Polish s-f is well-known, so japanese were afraid that Avalon might be considered as a first serious japanese s-f film. That would bring unwanted attention. On the other hand, polish actors may bring those unique feeling of Machulski's films - I guess that was Oshii's thought. Still, Machulski is a genius, while Oshii is maker of those buy-and-watch mindless cartoons - "anime", which popularity is increasing together with worldwide consumerism. Oshii is not worthy person to call him "japanese director", because japanese directors are Kitano, Miike, Kurosawa, Fukasaku - they look like Nobel Prize winners comparing to Oshii's look of kindergarten newbie. Such a brainless film like Avalon can direct anyone - you, me and especially that guys who live in mental clinics, because their fantasies and ideas are innovative, while Oshii has no ideas at all.
If you like to read blank books or to look at Malevich's paintings - watch Avalon, if not - stay away from this boredom.
Shanghai Surprise (1986)
The most underrated movie on this site
I'm not a fan of Penn or Madonna, but this movie is undoubtedly the most underrated film on IMDb. I can't believe that Shanghai Surprise user rating is only 2.6 and is on it's way to bottom 100.The story here is very good, Penn was okay and Madonna was not as bad as in other her films, so I rated it strong 6 out of 10, not an 0.1 less but not an 0.1 more. Perhaps it's not an excellent adventure, but still very entertaining, sometimes funny,and with beautiful cinematography as a bonus. Enjoy!
Zefir v shokolade (1993)
Burial of ukrainian cinematography
Zefir v shokolade was one of the first movies made in independent Ukraine.As time passed, it turns to be one of the last.
This comedy tells about a young girl, who failed to enter university and couldn't choose her future path after that failure. She meets a black guy ( just to notice - black people was very rare in early 90's Ukraine,I've meet first black man myself only at 12 y/o ) who was raised in a Children House ( government's house for kids who lost parental care ). Lately, this guy turns to be heir of rich african sultan.The rest of movie is spent in efforts of girl's parents to marry her, searching for prince by some emissars, and founding of cute embassy in a small flat.
In spite of having some funny moments, this movie is filled with naive spirit of late Perestroika, and as for myself it hurts almost physically to watch it today, because of that.
Overally - 4/10
Batoru rowaiaru (2000)
An ultimately wise movie
I can't fully describe all my feelings about this movie. Lets' say that some of it's phrases have become my mottos and Battle Royale is almost a Holy Bible for me.
Still, I can't understand why such an revolutionary film was made in a such rich country as Japan, because all these anti-american communist motives,which are clearly visible in this one, are more suitable to ex-USSR rather than to so-called democratic countries.
Some guy in this movie says that his father was a terrorist trying to overthrow the government, then he shows him on photo where he's standing under a red flag.I thought that would be enough for MPAA to ban this film in USA, still I see a reviews of americans on this site.These reviews are mostly favourable, I can't understand that too. Since when Che was a hero in USA and Japan?
I admit that acting may not be perfect here, actually only Takeshi shows us a supreme perfomance, as always. I can say that teen actors are mostly talentless but very beautiful (especially Megumi character), that fact adds a lot when you see them dying.
However, it has a major screenplay.The dialogues are exceptionally perfect, it's a pity that I watched BR dubbed in Russian, while dubbing was quite good I hope to watch it again when I learn Japanese. No matter where, with all your strenght - RUN!
Starik Khottabych (1957)
Unique Stalinist Fantasy with heart and morale
Starik Khottabych is classic Soviet film, which screenplay is based on a bestseller, Lazar Lagin's book. The book was some kind of modern Harry Potter novels for soviet kids.Personally, I've read that book about 10 times when I was a kid.It's about a pioneer (communistic analogue of boyscout) who finds a genie bottle in 1930's.Boy calls the genie "starik Khottabych", it's hard to translate this name, because russian "starik" literally means "old man" in English but starik has another sense, while Khottabych is a usual for russians and ukrainians second name, which means "son of Khottab".Overally the boy thinks of genie as an old baby and tries to learn how to use genie's abilities to help his friends, his favourite soccer team and so on.Pioneer don't bothers about money, his main concern is how to make Khottabych a true communist. This film may be influenced by Comrade Stalin himself, but it doesn't mean nothing today.It's moral is looking naive for modern kids in ex-USSR, they prefer to watch meaningless Pokemon cartoons.Still, if you want to know something about such an unique thing as Soviet Fantasy, this movie is one of the few examples of it.
Morozko (1965)
Difference of mentality
Ok,this movie really shows the huge difference between russian and american mentality. Almost every russian boy's and girl's favourite childhood movie alongside with "Nu,pogodi" cartoons, is completely misunderstood by americans and western europeans.What does it mean?It means that the nation who does not have it's own folklore is unable to understand foreign folklore.Please,any american man who plan to visit ex-USSR in the future - don't say to anyone that you hate this movie, because you'll be probably beaten both by democratic and communist-oriented people.Yes, russian tales and people are evil.Or,perhaps you don't wish or just cant understand them.
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Good film, but the book is way way better. And 68' version is better too
Maybe SPOILERS, maybe not. ( My english is not perfect, but it is much better than your russian :-) Once again I read Pierre Boulle's book and once again I'm wondering - WHY ? Why not Tim Burton neither ? couldn't simply adopt this book on screen word-by-word ? Why they were trying to change the story radically ? The story in the book is much more entertaining, surprising and significantly deeper in people-ape relations than in 68' and 01' films taken together ! Those who read the book will understand me well - the ending at the book is really shocking ! Of course, that half-destroyed Statue of Liberty at the ending of 68' film is very symbolic , but. I'll prefer not to say about 01' film ending sequence - it is in real Hollywood's style - heh, where can possibly crush your spaceboat - in the field, wood, river or ocean ? No !!! It will land right before the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. ! WHY ? Simply because this is an american film !
So, if you like GREAT science-fiction plots, good acting, directing, music and special effects, then you will like this film. I'm just sorry for that book's story - filmmakers did a big mistake, when decided to rewrite it.My rating : 8 out of 10. But the 68' film is better anyway.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Best of Star Wars !!!
It's hard to understand tastes of american people, especially if you are living in Ukraine. I still can't understand the "greatness" of episodes 4, 5 and 6. It's not even a science fiction really, it's just a comics, filled with GREAT soundtrack ! I'm quote George Lucas : " The sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a movie". OK, that's right , but only in HIS movies !!! I must say that entertaining in episodes 4,5,6 are sound and music at 95% ! The Phantom Menace is the best from Star Wars - it has strong perfomances ( Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd and Pernilla August ), beautiful cinematography, excellent special effects and GREAT music by John Williams ( as always ). It also has weak script and VERY WEAK direction by Lucas ( as always ), but these things don't stop me from seeing this TALE again and again only to hear that genius music. Ratings : soundtrack - no words, only emotions !!! Movie - 8 out of 10.
Wo hu cang long (2000)
Certainly the best movie of 2000 !
I have decided to buy this movie on vhs after seeing a beautiful cinematography shown in the trailer. Unfortunately this motion picture were not playing in our cinemas, so at the time when I see it at my home VCR it has already won 4 Oscars. As I have expected before buying, it would be an action with some dose of drama. Well, I must tell you that after seeing first 30 minutes of this movie I have been almost disappointed. Of course I admit that these fighting scenes are more than revolutionary, but there is that dramatically fullness what I have hope for? And in the end - is this movie worth that Oscars? Thanks God, the second part of it proved that Crouching Tiger worth every Oscar of 2001's ceremony! Exception : Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat. Their weak performance is the only reason why I give it 9 out of 10. Because of them this movie has not become a masterpiece. I'm truly sorry
That was a negative side. Here is a positive : Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen are one of the best screen couples in the history ! Tan Dun's music is clear magic ! Peter Pau's cinematography is like a wonderful dream ! Ang Lee's directing is excellent ! The ending sequence is really heartbreaking! All this things make me to watch this film again and again so I have see it more than 15 times. It happens with me very seldom, actually only few movies make me so exciting , so if you like Crouching Tiger I can recommend them to you . Here they are : Waterworld , Kundun , Terminator - 2 , Lolita (1997) , Dances with wolves , Braveheart and The Last Emperor.
Waterworld (1995)
My favourite picture.
Waterworld is are my favourite picture. Here's why.When I was 13 y.o.,I sought it for the first time. It was the time when my favourite actor was Arnold Schwarzenegger and I could not afford any film genre besides action and sci-fi. Well,it's hard to say how deeply I was shocked. At last I have understand the sense of "drama" in the movies. Star Wars makes me laugh,Terminator-2 makes me cry,WATERWORLD makes me THINK. Waterworld have been turning point in my cinematographical afflictions. Now my "TOP-10" includes Martin Scorsese's "Kundun",Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" ,etc. I want to thank Waterworld's crew - they make me smarter. If only there was even smallest possibility of sequel...