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MIKHALKOV, Nikita ...(b. 1945)
Sibirskij tsiryulnik ... aka Barber of Siberia, The (1998)
Utomlyonnye solntsem ... aka Burnt by the Sun (1994)
w/ Ingeborga Dapkounaite. Set in 1936 at the beginning of the Great Terror, focusing on a family struggling with the tormented history of the Soviet Union, and how the human spirit is able, when driven, to rise above political change.
Anna: Ot shesti do vosemnadtsati ... aka Anna: From Six Till Eighteen (1993)
Vspominaya Chekhova ... aka Remembering Chekhov (1993)
Urga... aka Close to Eden (1991)
Close to Eden (1992)......
Russian truck driver accidentally comes into the lives of a Mongol family, adroitly raising the question of who's ``civilized'' and who isn't. Beautifully filmed in the Mongolian steppe region of inner China by the acclaimed director of DARK EYES.
Avtostop ... aka Hitch-hiking (1990)
Ochi chyornye .. aka Black Eyes (1987)
Dark Eyes ......
Bez svidetelei ... aka Private Conversation, A (1983)
Rodnya ... aka Family Relations (1981)
Neskolko dnej iz zhizni I.I. Oblomova.... aka Oblomov (1979)
Pyat vecherov ... aka Five Evenings (1979)
Unfinished Piece for a Player Piano, An (1977)
Raba lyubvi ... aka Slave of Love (1976)
At Home Among Strangers, a Stranger at Home (1974)
Quiet Day During the End of War, A (1970)
And I Go Home (1968)
Devochka i veshchi (1967)
Little Vera (1988)......Starring: Natalya Negoda
Groundbreaking, post-glasnost look at life in modern Russia. Negoda offers a fresh performance as an alienated, working-class, rock music-loving young woman; the depiction of her sexual relationship with Sokolov, plus the manner in which Western culture has affected her life, make this unlike any other Soviet film you've ever seen. Natalya Negoda is brilliant! The film won the Critics Prize at The Venice Film Festival and Best Picture and Best Actress at The Chicago Film Festival in 1988.
The Wishing Tree /dir.T.Abuladze/year1977/URSS
Drevo zhelaniya (1977)...... Directed by Tengiz Abuladze
Also Known As: Tree of Desire, The (1977)
Country: Soviet Union ...... Language: Georgian ......Color
"Abuladze is considered one of the most provocative modern Georgian directors. Widely hailed as one of the best films of the 1980s, "Repentance" is part of his acclaimed trilogy, which also includes "The Plead" and "Tree of Wishes"
I grew up watching and discussing Tengiz Abuladze's films, my friends and I always looked forward to his new work, and I was happy to find out that his films are showing in the US. Nevertheless, I was little disappointed to read the review where he is mentioned as a Russian director. He was born and raised in Georgia, he worked in Georgia and his films are projecting unique Georgian character, culture, traditions - and It is very incorrect to call him a Russian director, especially that this information is posted on more and more websites.
Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Despite myriad problems, progress on market reforms and democratization support the country's goal of greater integration with Western political, economic, and security institutions. The history of the Georgian cinema begins practically in parallel with the European one. In 1908 the first film directors Dighmelov and Amashukeli made their first experimental shots, and in 1912 Amashukeli shot the first in the history of the world cinema full-length documentary “Akaki Tsereteli in Racha-Lechkhumi”. This is officially acknowledged the date of the beginning of the Georgian cinema. In 1916 Tsutsunava shoots the first full-range feature film “Christine” according to the sort story by E. Ninoshvili, the classic of the Georgian literature. Foreign companies (Pate-film) readily bought the first Georgian films. It is interesting that the Georgian cinema from the very first steps was widely supported by the leading representatives of the Georgian intellectuals. This fact has predetermined high artistic quality, spiritual and conceptual direction of the Georgian cinema over the whole period of its development.
The films of Tengiz Abuladze represent a picturesque cinema. His trilogy visually reveals contrasts of kind and evil. Abuladze boldly uses different, sometimes incompatible systems within the limits of one film (e.g. Psychological drama with grotesque-farce episodes): “Entreaty”, 1979 (Grand Prize, SanRomeo), “A Wishing Tree” (prize in Teheran, Italian prize for the best foreign film, David of Donatello), “Repentance” (Grand Prize in Cannes, FIPRESSI, etc.). For Georgian Cinema, every film of T.Abuladze was a landmark. Each project was at least the most typical if not the best film of its time. Visually they all are made in different style and form defined (or sometimes defining) the trends in the contemporary Georgian cinema. (! -there are several spoilers ahead).
The Early films (made in co-operation with T. Chkheidze) were definitely influenced by the Italian NeoRealism (though the influence was more stylistical than conceptual). In the first film - Magdanas Lurja- the classic short story of I. Chavchavadze (Writer, Poet and Political Activist of the 19th century, assassinated by the socialists, and later declared a Saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church) was used to make one of the earliest attempts of Georgian cinema alla' Neorealism. The attempt was nice for the debut but was limited by the demands of Official Censorship - the story of a 19th century court case obviously had a Propaganda touch - "Such injustice would never happen in the Soviet Union". Even the happy end of the original story was changed. The major achievement of Tengiz Abuladze himself is a trilogy The Plead (Vedreba), Tree of Wishes (Natvris Khe) and Repentance (Monanieba). Whereas I personally regard all three films to be masterpieces, the Non-Georgian Audience will hardly understand their depth as most symbols and allusions used are "Very Georgian". Despite this the last two parts of a trilogy got a wide critical acclaim and Repentance even became the major commercial hit at Soviet Cinemas. But with the magnificent Plead the situation was different. The major problem is that film is not just based on the poetry of Vaja-Pshavela (regarded by many to be the greatest Georgian poet ever), its literally full of it. Poetry of Vaja-Pshavela is very complex one and actually not translatable as he uses a very specific language, symbols, notions and terms of East Georgia Mountain Provinces, the mood of the entire film is based on this verses constantly cited within the film; Retelling just their content gives nothing and foreign audience is left with graphic and extravagant visuals that may seem interesting for 10 minutes but become tiresome during the full-length film. Both visually and conceptually the film is perhaps the most outstanding and controversial Georgian film of its time. Unlike the Plead, the Tree of Wishes was accepted by Georgian audience without any hesitation. Tree of Wishes is exquisite for its beautiful cinematography and all star casting (from these especially should be noted Lika Kavjaradze as beautiful Marita, Sophico Chiaureli as extravagant Pupala , Ramaz Chikvadze as a corrupt priest, Erosi Manjgaladze as idealistic patriot and Cecilia Takaishvili who once again (since "I, Grandma, Ilia and Illarion") gave a brilliant performance (again as a grandmother and again giving the brilliant ending of the film). The various characters and storylines of Giorgi Leonidze's short stories about his childhood are united in a delicious, poetic and entertaining film.
The Steppe /dir.S.Bondarchuk/year 1978/URSS/any format;any language
Ashik Kerib
Armenia 1988 78 minutes Color
Directed by Sergei Paradjanov
Come and See
Russia 1985 142 minutes Color
Directed by Elem Klimov
Commissar
Russia 1968/88 105 minutes B&W
Directed by Alexander Askoldov
Dersu Uzala
Japan/Russia 1975 137 minutes Color
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Kindergarten
Russia 1984 143 minutes Color
Directed by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
The Legend of Suram Fortress
Armenia 1985 89 minutes Color
Directed by Sergei Paradjanov
Leo Tolstoy
Russia 1984 103 minutes Color
Directed by Sergei Gerasimov
The Mirror
Russia 1975 106 minutes Color
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Paradjanov: A Requiem
Russia/U.S./Germany 1994 57 minutes Color
Directed by Ron Holloway
Rasputin
Russia 1977 104 minutes Color
Directed by Elem Klimov
Red Pomegranate
Armenia 1969 75 minutes Color
Directed by Sergei Paradjanov
Tchaikovsky
Russia 1971 153 minutes Color
Directed by Igor Talankin