Russian Language Hall of Fame II

[SpelingError]

76724

Welcome to the Russian Language Hall of Fame II

Any film that's from Russia and is predominantly in Russian is eligible for this HoF as long as it hasn't won a previous HoF. This means that you're not allowed to nominate the following films:

Tale of Tales (1979, Norstein)
The Ascent (1977, Sheptiko)
Solaris (1972, Tarkovsky)

All other Russian films are eligible for this HoF though.

In case you're new to Hall of Fames and don't know how they work, here are the rules:

1) Everyone who wishes to join must state they're joining in this thread and then nominate a film by sending it to me via Private Message. Do not reveal your nomination in the thread! If you wish to join, let me know by April 29th. That will be the loose deadline for this thread, meaning that I'll post all the nominations and you can begin watching and reviewing them, though you'll still have another week to join this thread before the deadline to join officially arrives (which will be on May 6th, btw).

2) The film you nominate shouldn't be over four hours long.

3) Your nomination should have dialogue primarily in Russian. Make sure your nomination has English subtitles though and is easy to track down. If you need to share a link to a free streaming site, don't post it in this thread. Share it via PMs. Also, feel free to ask for help with finding the films nominated for this thread if you're unable to find them.

4) Everyone who joins must watch and review all the films nominated for this thread. You do not have to post a full, elaborate review in this thread for each film, but you do need to say something about each film (write at least a paragraph for each film and you should be good).

5) The amount of time you have to watch and review all the films for this thread is approximately one week for each film. I'll add a couple extra weeks to account for anyone who falls behind, but I recommend staying on schedule. Once I get a tally of everyone who's in this thread, I'll put up a deadline for when you have to finish everything by.

6) When you have finished watching and reviewing all of the nominations, PM me with a ranked list (where #1 is your favorite film) of all the films nominated for this thread. The films will be scored based on where they ranked on everyone's lists, with the final reveal happening after everyone has submitted a list.

For example, if your ballot looks like this:

1) Tale of Tales (1979)
2) The Ascent (1977)
3) Solaris (1972)

Tale of Tales would get 3 points, The Ascent would get 2 points, and Solaris would get 1 point. The film which gets the most points wins, the film which gets the second most points will be in 2nd place, and so on.

Nominations:

76989

The Cranes Are Flying (1957, Mikhail Kalatozov)
Nominated by: SpelingError

76994

Letter Never Sent (1959, Mikhail Kalatozov)
Nominated by: ScarletLion

76988

Stalker (1979, Andrei Tarkovsky)
Nominated by: Citizen Rules

77002

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1992, Aleksandr Petrov)
Nominated by: jiraffejustin

77001

The Thief (1997, Pavel Chukhray)
Nominated by: Wyldesyde19

77006

Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998, Aleksey German)
Nominated by: Ultraviolence
NO LONGER IN

77004

The Return (2003, Andrey Zvyagintsev)
Nominated by: Takoma11

76990

Leviathan (2014, Andrey Zvyagintsev)
Nominated by: nidral
NO LONGER IN

[SpelingError]

Deadline: July 10th

Reviews:

Citizen Rules (6/6): LIST SENT
The Cranes Are Flying (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2206564#post2206564)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208216#post2208216)
Letter Never Sent (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2215016#post2215016)
The Return (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2203033#post2203033)
Stalker (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2217114#post2217114)
The Thief (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2210857#post2210857)

jiraffejustin (6/6): LIST SENT
The Cranes Are Flying (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2213670#post2213670)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2213670#post2213670)
Letter Never Sent (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208561#post2208561)
The Return (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208561#post2208561)
Stalker (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2213670#post2213670)
The Thief (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208561#post2208561)

ScarletLion (6/6): LIST SENT
The Cranes Are Flying (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2203681#post2203681)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2209955#post2209955)
Letter Never Sent (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2209950#post2209950)
The Return (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2203681#post2203681)
Stalker (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2206921#post2206921)
The Thief (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2218483#post2218483)

SpelingError (6/6): LIST SENT
The Cranes Are Flying (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2200709#post2200709)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2202929#post2202929)
Letter Never Sent (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2205530#post2205530)
The Return (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2206864#post2206864)
Stalker (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208370#post2208370)
The Thief (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2209846#post2209846)

Takoma11 (6/6): LIST SENT
The Cranes Are Flying (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2205033#post2205033)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2206390#post2206390)
Letter Never Sent (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2205629#post2205629)
The Return (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208818#post2208818)
Stalker (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2206375#post2206375)
The Thief (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2208169#post2208169)

Wyldesyde19 (6/6): LIST SENT
The Cranes Are Flying (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2217935#post2217935)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2211729#post2211729)
Letter Never Sent (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2219078#post2219078)
The Return (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2215026#post2215026)
Stalker (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2201888#post2201888)
The Thief (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2219847#post2219847)

[SpelingError]

Also, I might as well ping everyone from RT/Corrie to see if their interested. If you don't wish to join, it's totally cool.

ApexPredator
Captain Terror
crumbsroom
Jinnistan
John Dumbear
John W Constantine
kgaard
Rockatansky
Slentert
StuSmallz
Takoma
ThatDarnMKS
Thief
Torgo
WHITBISSELL!

Also, Citizen Rules and Wyldesyde19 both expressed interest in this, so I'll ping both of them as well.

[ScarletLion]

Now then. I might be game on here.

[Citizen Rules]

Nicely done Speling Error!

So glad to see the RT/Corries take a shining to the HoFs🙂 I hope more will join in, these HoFs are a highlight at MoFo.

[Mr Minio]

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is not a Russian film and it has nothing to do with Russia.


The language spoken in the film is Ukrainian (with possible Rusyn language parts).
The film is about the Hutsuls ethnic group.
The film is directed by an Armenian director.


It is a Soviet film. But the Soviet Union encompassed some 15 republics.

[SpelingError]

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is not a Russian film and it has nothing to do with Russia.


The language spoken in the film is Ukrainian (with possible Rusyn language parts).
The film is about the Hutsuls ethnic group.
The film is directed by an Armenian director.


It is a Soviet film. But the Soviet Union encompassed some 15 republics.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think of that.

[crumbsroom]

Can I submit Ikarie XB-1 as my favorite Russian film, even if it is from Czechoslovakia?

[SpelingError]

Can I submit Ikarie XB-1 as my favorite Russian film, even if it is from Czechoslovakia?

Sadly, that one wouldn't apply.

[jiraffejustin]

I think I'll join this, I'll just ask the other participants to watch mine last as I have to make it over a particularly busy patch for myself. I'll do my best and I'll nominate a film that only goes 30 minutes.

[crumbsroom]

Sadly, that one wouldn't apply.


Grrrrrrrr.

[SpelingError]

Grrrrrrrr.

For real though, I highly recommend joining this. Takoma, Torgo, Thief, and I were in the 24th HoF, and it's a lot of fun.

[Citizen Rules]

Can I submit Ikarie XB-1 as my favorite Russian film, even if it is from Czechoslovakia?I like to see that one myself. I love those old Soviet block space movies.

[Thief]

Ughh, I will think real hard if I want to join. I had a hard time in terms of scheduling to finish the HOF24, I also neglected the Personal Rec HOF during that time, plus I have my own Movie Loot challenge to deal with... but I will think it through.

[SpelingError]

Ughh, I will think real hard if I want to join. I had a hard time in terms of scheduling to finish the HOF24, I also neglected the Personal Rec HOF during that time, plus I have my own Movie Loot challenge to deal with... but I will think it through.

That's fine :up: These can be time consuming for sure.

[Thief]

So films made under the Soviet Union don't apply, or apply as long as they are in Russian?

[SpelingError]

So films made under the Soviet Union don't apply, or apply as long as they are in Russian?

As long as the dialogue in them is in Russian, they should be good.

[Wyldesyde19]

I’m in. Going to think about what to nominate. I have two definite choices here to consider.

[Torgo]

Thanks, but Russian language movies are a bit of a blind spot for me. Have fun, everyone, and good luck, Error!

[Thief]

I think I will enjoy this one from the bench. 1) For the reasons I stated before and 2) because I was checking on Letterboxd how many Russian films I've seen and I don't think it even amounts to 10, or maybe even 5. And the ones I've seen are either fairly well known (which means that probably most people here have seen them or will get nabbed first) or are just crap. But I'll be looking and picking up recommendations.

[rauldc14]

Cranes is such a damn good movie

[SpelingError]

Thanks, but Russian language movies are a bit of a blind spot for me. Have fun, everyone, and good luck, Error!

I think I will enjoy this one from the bench. 1) For the reasons I stated before and 2) because I was checking on Letterboxd how many Russian films I've seen and I don't think it even amounts to 10, or maybe even 5. And the ones I've seen are either fairly well known (which means that probably most people here have seen them or will get nabbed first) or are just crap. But I'll be looking and picking up recommendations.

That's fair! I hope to see you both in the 25th HoF and future HoF's though.

[Citizen Rules]

I'll join! I just got figure out what nom I want.

[Takoma11]

I'm in--sounds like a good time!

I'll just add my usual caveat that I won't watch films with unsimulated animal cruelty, so once all the films are nominated I'll vet them and then make my exit if there's something out of my scope.

[CosmicRunaway]

Do not reveal your nomination in the thread!
This is usually a rule because we tend to keep the nominations secret until we're ready to start the HoF, but since you're adding the films to the first post already, it might not be necessary.

[SpelingError]

This is usually a rule because we tend to keep the nominations secret until we're ready to start the HoF, but since you're adding the films to the first post already, it might not be necessary.

Sorry, I'm new to this, so I might not get all the particulars right. How do the starts of these threads usually work? I removed the pictures, btw.

[nidral]

Count me in :up: I will message you my nomination.

[ScarletLion]

There are 3 or 4 Russian films that are big gaps for me. Really hoping they make this list so I have no excuses for not having watched them.

And for those who don't know about this absolute gem of a film site, fill your boots:

https://russianfilmhub.com/

[CosmicRunaway]

Sorry, I'm new to this, so I might not get all the particulars right. How do the starts of these threads usually work? I removed the pictures, btw.
Since you set April 29th as the deadline, you'd typically keep everyone's nominations to yourself until then. Some hosts will just update the main post when it comes time to reveal the nominations, while some others will do a reveal in the thread as well. It's up to you to decide how you want to handle it.

Everyone has their own hosting style, so there's no one right or wrong way. You can keep it nice, clean, and concise, or be flashy and flamboyant. I'm probably the only one who adds unnecessary flair to my posts (see the Fantasy Hall of Fame (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=61784) for an example of that lol), but I find that fun. Similarly, when the HoF is over and it comes time to post the final results, you can provide the basic information about ranking and points, or go over-the-top.

[SpelingError]

Since you set April 29th as the deadline, you'd typically keep everyone's nominations to yourself until then. Some hosts will just update the main post when it comes time to reveal the nominations, while some others will do a reveal in the thread as well. It's up to you to decide how you want to handle it.

Everyone has their own hosting style, so there's no one right or wrong way. You can keep it nice, clean, and concise, or be flashy and flamboyant. I'm probably the only one who adds unnecessary flair to my posts (see the Fantasy Hall of Fame (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=61784) for an example of that lol), but I find that fun. Similarly, when the HoF is over and it comes time to post the final results, you can provide the basic information about ranking and points, or go over-the-top.
Aye, I see. Thanks for the insight! That'll come in handy.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm still looking over various Russian films, but I'll have my nom into you before the start of the HoF. This should be a fun HoF, can't wait to see what the movies will be!

[SpelingError]

This is just a reminder that I'll reveal the nominations in two days. If you still wish to join, you'll have till May 6th to decide.

[Wyldesyde19]

This is just a reminder that I'll reveal the nominations in two days. If you still wish to join, you'll have till May 6th to decide.

But I wanna know now!!!!

*Stomps off to sulk in the corner*

[SpelingError]

But I wanna know now!!!!

*Stomps off to sulk in the corner*

I'll give you a clue. One of the movies was made sometime in the past 130 years.

[rauldc14]

I doubt I'll join due to not wanting to put too much on my plate, but may check some out. I was in the first one and it was fun.

[Wyldesyde19]

Just one more day......just one more day.....
*mutters to self as he rocks back and forth in the corner*

[SpelingError]

Before I reveal the nominations, do I reveal who nominated each film, or do I leave that a secret for a bit and give everyone some time to guess who nominated what?

[Citizen Rules]

Before I reveal the nominations, do I reveal who nominated each film, or do I leave that a secret for a bit and give everyone some time to guess who nominated what?It's been done both ways, it's up to you. Though it's hard to guess who nominated what, as I don't even know some of the new members....You could even have the noms remain secret until the HoF is over.

[Chypmunk]

....You could even have the noms remain secret until the HoF is over.
This gives rise to a fabulous idea - a 'Psychic HOF' where people watch what they think the nominations might be and the one who gets most right wins ;)

[SpelingError]

Here are the nominations:

76989

The Cranes Are Flying (1957, Mikhail Kalatozov)
Nominated by: SpelingError

76994

Letter Never Sent (1959, Mikhail Kalatozov)
Nominated by: ScarletLion

76988

Stalker (1979, Andrei Tarkovsky)
Nominated by: Citizen Rules

77002

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1992, Aleksandr Petrov)
Nominated by: jiraffejustin

77001

The Thief (1997, Pavel Chukhray)
Nominated by: Wyldesyde19

77006

Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998, Aleksey German)
Nominated by: Ultraviolence

77004

The Return (2003, Andrey Zvyagintsev)
Nominated by: Takoma11

76990

Leviathan (2014, Andrey Zvyagintsev)
Nominated by: nidral

[SpelingError]

Also, the deadline for this HoF is July 3rd. That gives you all a full week to watch each film plus an additional two weeks to account for anyone who falls behind.

[ScarletLion]

Oh wow. That is a brilliant set of nominations. Well done everyone. I've seen quite a few but will never get bored of rewatching Stalker. Everyone knows Tarkovsky's quality, but I think The Return might surprise a few people in this HoF. Can't wait to get stuck in.

[SpelingError]

I've only seen Stalker, but a few of these have been on my watchlist for a while. Looking forward to this.

Great nominations everyone!

[SpelingError]

Also, if anyone here has any trouble with finding any of the nominated films, let me know and I'll be happy to dm you with links to them.

[ScarletLion]

The Thief is on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkjhQln-Gfo

The Dream of a ridiculous man is here
https://russianfilmhub.com/movies/the-dream-of-a-ridiculous-man-1992/

The others should be watched in HD quality in my opinion.

[SpelingError]

Also, here's Letter Never Sent (ignore the different title):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVU_Xu_AXNQ

[ScarletLion]

Also, here's Letter Never Sent (ignore the different title):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVU_Xu_AXNQ

Oh my God, MosfilM have put it out in 4K????

That's delicious.

[Thief]

I know I'm not participating, but just wanted to share free streaming options for each...

The Cranes Are Flying - HBO Max, Criterion Channel
Letter Never Sent - Criterion Channel
Stalker - Criterion Channel
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man - None
The Thief - Amazon (rent)
The Return - Mubi
Leviathan - Only for rent in a bunch of places

I've only seen Stalker from the bunch, but I'll keep an eye on the others.

[SpelingError]

Also, just as a reminder, if you haven't joined yet but are still interested in doing so, you still have a week to enter. Just let me know via dms.

[Citizen Rules]

Nice job doing the reveal of the noms. I like that you included the director. Great choices everyone!

[Torgo]

In Soviet Russia, movies put YOU in the Hall of Fame!
Have fun, guys. Carry on.

[Ultraviolence]

I nominated Stalker for Russia's first Hall of Fame, it's nice to see that it was nominated again. It's my favorite movie.

If I'm not mistaken, The Cranes Are Flying was also nominated. (it was, I just checked)

In the first one, Visitor of a Museum was nominated by TokeZa, never thanked you. So, thank you :D.
I love that film and Lopushanskiy's work since then.

[SpelingError]

Btw, Ultraviolence just joined. I'll add their nom in and extend the deadline by a week once I get back to my computer.

[SpelingError]

Here's Ultraviolence's nomination:

77006

Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998, Aleksey German)
Nominated by: Ultraviolence

I updated the first two posts in this thread. The deadline is now July 10th.

[nidral]

Good choices ! Barely wait to see what I haven't seen so far :up:

[CosmicRunaway]

I saw that The Cranes Are Flying had been nominated again earlier in the thread, and wondered how many other films from the first Russian HoF would make an appearance. I figured Stalker had a good chance, but didn't really expect to see Leviathan.

I don't like having multiple HoFs on my plate, so I won't be participating, but I'll certainly follow the thread to see if any of the other films look interesting. I'm not overly familiar with Russian film, so it would be nice to add a few to my watch list.

[nidral]

I found like 4 of them, (in full size)...
I'm having "issues" with these :
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man needs some identification on Youtube (other than phone), I need The Thief (1997), Khrustalyov, My Car(1998), and The Return (2003).
I watched ScarletLions link but that is also a payed website, those films appear as samples of 20 minutes only.
I'll also Google them and see if I can find them on some online website
If you guys know where can be these found (of course with English subs) feel free to message me..... till then I'll watch the other 4 :up:

[SpelingError]

I found like 4 of them, (in full size)...
I'm having "issues" with these :
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man needs some identification on Youtube (other than phone), I need The Thief (1997), Khrustalyov, My Car(1998), and The Return (2003).
I watched ScarletLions link but that is also a payed website, those films appear as samples of 20 minutes only.
I'll also Google them and see if I can find them on some online website
If you guys know where can be these found (of course with English subs) feel free to message me..... till then I'll watch the other 4 :up:

I sent you links to all four of those films.

[nidral]

There's also this one.... https://sovietmoviesonline.com but it is also paid and there are only 20 minute samples for free....

[nidral]

I sent you links to all four of those films.

Ok. Thx. I messaged you back !
:up:
Khrustalyov works.... I need those other 3 .... but maybe I'll find them myself till the deadline :) so no worries :up:

[nidral]

Ok. So I guess this is "The Thief" which is on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de3tj7DAhAk

I still need 1 - The Return (2003) .... please send link if you'll find it ...

[nidral]

If I remember correctly I've seen Stalker & also The Return..... just wanna watch it again :up:

[rauldc14]

Letter Never Sent is so damn good too. But it deserves a win in a general HOF.

[rauldc14]

Mainly glad I didn't join because I hate Stalker but hope it wins here lol

[Citizen Rules]

Mainly glad I didn't join because I hate Stalker but hope it wins here lolWell, at least you can be pretty sure that I didn't nominate it for the 25th...or did I:eek:

[SpelingError]

Mainly glad I didn't join because I hate Stalker but hope it wins here lol
What? You hate Stalker?!?!

[rauldc14]

What? You hate Stalker?!?!

I don't care for it.

[Citizen Rules]

I don't care for it.Have you seen any other Tarkovsky's films?

[SpelingError]

I don't care for it.
Aw, that's my number 1 film. To be fair though, it's not for everyone.

[rauldc14]

Have you seen any other Tarkovsky's films?

Yup. Really like most of the rest I've seen. Solaris or The Sacrifice probably the favorite.

[SpelingError]

My rankings of Tarkovsky's films:

1) Stalker
2) Andrei Rublev
3) The Mirror
4) Solaris
5) Ivan's Childhood
6) The Killers

Save for The Killers (which is still good, but very student film-y and a bit racist), I think all of these are essential films.

[Citizen Rules]

I almost went with The Mirror, which I haven't seen.

[rauldc14]

Never heard of the Killers

I liked Mirror Citizen. Probably my number 3

[SpelingError]

Never heard of the Killers

I liked Mirror Citizen. Probably my number 3

The Killers is a relatively obscure short film he made before he directed his first feature film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofHN3PTpVg

[Takoma11]

I found like 4 of them, (in full size)...
I'm having "issues" with these :
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man needs some identification on Youtube (other than phone), I need The Thief (1997), Khrustalyov, My Car(1998), and The Return (2003).
I watched ScarletLions link but that is also a payed website, those films appear as samples of 20 minutes only.
I'll also Google them and see if I can find them on some online website
If you guys know where can be these found (of course with English subs) feel free to message me..... till then I'll watch the other 4 :up:

https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-return-2003

Kanopy is a free service you can get if your library participates. If you have an Amazon account or Vudu, you can rent it for $2. (I usually try to spend $0 on these challenges, but $2 isn't horrible).

[jiraffejustin]

I don't need to watch The Cranes Are Flying again to know that I love it immensely. I probably don't need to see Stalker again, but I might anyway. This looks like a great bunch, I am hoping Cranes wins, but I wouldn't be upset with Stalker taking it.

[nidral]

https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-return-2003

Kanopy is a free service you can get if your library participates. If you have an Amazon account or Vudu, you can rent it for $2. (I usually try to spend $0 on these challenges, but $2 isn't horrible).

The thing is I remember seeing it now.... it's just that I'd like to see it again....
Thx for the link :up:

[Ultraviolence]

I was about to nominate Mirror but decided to go with something the majority never heard about.

[neiba]

Some really good noms in here! Stalker is a huge favourite! Cranes are flying is also pretty good, it was part of the last Russian HoF, and so is Leviathan, which I believe I nominated for that or another HoF.

I never watched "the dream of the ridiculous man" but I read it and it's amazing, I might check it out!

[nidral]

With deep regret I have to say that I feel compelled to withdraw from this competition.
It's just that I am kinda busy with job these days and I also will be, so somehow I feel like watching something else after a stressful day.
Hope it's ok....
I will watch movies I feel like watching though (not hat I don't like these ones as well - I've seen most of them anyway) so I'll maybe watch some other movies, maybe different foreign movies or something more cheerful :)
Had a moment in my life when I started to learn Russian intensively for about 4 years... also speak it on a conversation level now, not an academic one though .... so while I got in touch with some Russian language speakers they kinda recommended me many Russian movies....
I've seen plenty of them, (watch Bumer 1/2 maybe there's a 3 also) it's how they call the BMW in some parts over there ....
So I kinda know how are people feeling about their own "rodina" (homeland) and I've seen a bunch of Russian films about the difficult life from there, maybe some were funny or had different subjects, but I hope you will all forgive me since I feel like watching something else.
пожалуйста, не сердитесь на меня (pozhaluysta, ne serdites' na menya), Желаю хорошего дня товарищи (I wish you a great day comrads ) :D
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/russia-fan-salutes-prior-to-the-irb-2011-rugby-world-cup-pool-c-match-picture-id126319788?s=612x612

[SpelingError]

With deep regret I have to say that I feel compelled to withdraw from this competition.
It's just that I am kinda busy with job these days and I also will be, so somehow I feel like watching something else after a stressful day.
Hope it's ok....
I will watch movies I feel like watching though (not hat I don't like these ones as well - I've seen most of them anyway) so I'll maybe watch some other movies, maybe different foreign movies or something more cheerful :)
Had a moment in my life when I started to learn Russian intensively for about 4 years... also speak it on a conversation level now, not an academic one though .... so while I got in touch with some Russian language speakers they kinda recommended me many Russian movies....
I've seen plenty of them, (watch Bumer 1/2 maybe there's a 3 also) it's how they call the BMW in some parts over there ....
So I kinda know how are people feeling about their own "rodina" (homeland) and I've seen a bunch of Russian films about the difficult life from there, maybe some were funny or had different subjects, but I hope you will all forgive me since I feel like watching something else.
пожалуйста, не сердитесь на меня (pozhaluysta, ne serdites' na menya), Желаю хорошего дня товарищи (I wish you a great day comrads ) :D
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/russia-fan-salutes-prior-to-the-irb-2011-rugby-world-cup-pool-c-match-picture-id126319788?s=612x612

Aw, I'm sorry to hear that, but it's totally cool. Your nomination was Leviathan, as I recall, so that one is removed from this HoF then.

[nidral]

Please don't be offended.... I'm kinda stressed with work and just feel like casual talking or maybe write a few things about a movie or two.:up: TY

[Citizen Rules]

Please don't be offended.... I'm kinda stressed with work and just feel like casual talking or maybe write a few things about a movie or two.:up: TYIt's cool:) you did tell us at the very start, so it's not a big deal. I hope you'll consider joining a future HoF, they are all quite different in their themes and the movies that are choose. What kind of movies (genres/type/etc) interest you the most?

[nidral]

It's cool:) you did tell us at the very start, so it's not a big deal. I hope you'll consider joining a future HoF, they are all quite different in their themes and the movies that are choose. What kind of movies (genres/type/etc) interest you the most?
I watch various films and it's not that I'm not interested in the Russian cinema. I've seen Solaris, The Mirror, Stalker also watched a few movies made by Nikita Mihalkov - which is a great actor and a great director in my opinion but he is not seen with good eyes in Russia since he is one of Putin's supporters. He made some sort of a remake after 12 angry men. Also seen other films with him and directed by Mihalkov.
I've seen The ISland (Ostrov) with Pyotr Mamonov.... also played Ivan the Terrible in one movie.... and many many new movies as well.

It's just that I'm going through some sort of a phase in which after I come home from work I prefer chatting and maybe write a few lines about a movie I've seen, every once in a while - not to feel pressured by any deadlines. (Not that you guys put any pressure on me- because there was plenty of time to watch all these movies)...
I did participate though in 25 foreign movie list that other user of this website created, so I've sent my nominations over there.
Maybe in the future if there will be more free time.... I'll join....
So I hope all will understand :up:

[Citizen Rules]

I watch various films and it's not that I'm not interested in the Russian cinema. I've seen Solaris, The Mirror, Stalker also watched a few movies made by Nikita Mihalkov - which is a great actor and a great director in my opinion but he is not seen with good eyes in Russia since he is one of Putin's supporters. He made some sort of a remake after 12 angry men. Also seen other films with him and directed by Mihalkov.
I've seen The ISland (Ostrov) with Pyotr Mamonov.... also played Ivan the Terrible in one movie.... and many many new movies as well.

It's just that I'm going through some sort of a phase in which after I come home from work I prefer chatting and maybe write a few lines about a movie I've seen, every once in a while - not to feel pressured by any deadlines. (Not that you guys put any pressure on me- because there was plenty of time to watch all these movies)...
I did participate though in 25 foreign movie list that other user of this website created, so I've sent my nominations over there.
Maybe in the future if there will be more free time.... I'll join....
So I hope all will understand :up:I think you might have misunderstood my intention of my question. I wasn't questioning why you couldn't finish the HoF...I was just trying to make convo and also get some ideas for future HoFs that you (and others) might be interested in. That's all:)

[nidral]

I think you might have misunderstood my intention of my question. I wasn't questioning why you couldn't finish the HoF...I was just trying to make convo and also get some ideas for future HoFs that you (and others) might be interested in. That's all:)

I'll think of a few and post it.
But as far as I can see you guys (the older ones in here) already figured that out and created so many HoF, about which I couldn't even think of :)
It's great to see so many people around here with great ideas and imagination.
I'm sure I could fit in my seen movies in those and I will do it soon or later ;)

[SpelingError]

The Cranes Are Flying (1957) - 4

While I'm not the biggest fan of classic romance films, I was definitely eager to watch this film for this thread as I've been meaning to get to it for a while. While I'm not sure I consider it to be a great film, I liked a lot about it and another viewing may get me to like it even more.

After finishing it, I was rather surprised as to how it was a fairly low-key romance. After Boris left for WWII, most of the film followed Veronika's attempts of coping with his absence and the fear of him being killed, while she was stuck in a loveless relationship with Mark. Due to this, the film maintained a steady atmosphere of despair, yet never felt like it was wallowing in this. A major thing which sets this film above most other classical romances I've seen is that it refuses to tie itself up into a neat bow in terms of its emotional register. Many tragedies befall Veronika and, though she isn't able to recover from all of them, the ending shows that, even if she can't be made whole again, she can still move on. I found the ending to be more layered and impactful than what I normally see in romance films.

The camerawork and editing were also really impressive. The how-did-they-shoot-that scene of Boris running up a set of stairs as the camera followed him was pretty great, a dreamlike sequence of Boris imagining a wedding between he and Veronika was nothing short of technically impressive, and the air raid shown from the perspective of Veronika's apartment ranks among the most claustrophobic things I've seen in film in a while. I also appreciated how some of the lighting used in the happier and playful moments of the film had a strong, dreamlike glare to it (as could be seen with the sunlight in the opening, for example). These scenes caused the film to be stylistically impressive and they make me more excited to watch Kalatozov's Letter Never Sent for this thread.

With all that being said, while there's a lot to love about this film, I'll need to watch it again to decide if I think it's great or just really good since I'm still mulling over a major directorial choice in it. Around the middle of the film, Boris is killed in the war while on a reconnaissance mission. While his death is certainly unexpected and among the most visually and technically impressive scenes in the film, I did wonder whether his death would've had a stronger impact had it been saved for later. As it stood, I felt that his death sacrificed some of the narrative tension I enjoyed over whether he'd survive. To be fair though, this was in service of setting up an even bleaker tone in the second half with Mark being more at the forefront. Since I'm not quite sure what to make of that scene and the effect it has on the film as of now though, I'll have to rewatch the film to decide whether I liked this choice or not.

Regardless of what direction the film goes in in the second half though, I quite enjoyed this film and I found that it mostly lived up to its reputation as a great film. Another viewing may get me to like it even more.

Next up: The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

[SpelingError]

This is just a reminder that you have two more days to join this HoF if you're still interested.

[SpelingError]

This is the last reminder that you have one more day to join this HoF.

[Wyldesyde19]

Stalker


Tarkovsky has always been a blind spot for me. I first heard of him back in 2003, I think? When the remake of Solaris had come out. I had read his original version was the one worth seeking out, as well as Stalker. For some reason though, I never did. Maybe because his films weren’t as easy to find in the Hollywood video rental I frequented at the time.*

Stalker begins with a unnamed man who takes anyone willing to pay into the Zone, an area steeped in mystery and legend. A meteor hit it years ago, and when trips were sent to recover it, they never returned. The area was then blocked off and no one is allowed to enter under threat of imprisonment or death. But inside the Zone, lies a room that grants all who enter their desires.**
So of course, our Stalker is hired to lead two strangers the writer and the professor, to this mysterious room.**

The film is really an essay of sorts, on the human psyche. It is deeply psychological and even on my first viewing, I know there was a lot I missed or it went over my head. As such, it demands repeated viewings. We watch as these three struggle to reach the room, and debate with each other while waxing philosophical. Stalker is deeply philosophical.**

It is shot beautifully. Alternating between color and sepia tone, the switch is sudden and almost seamlessly. And there are some scenes of foreboding as they enter the zone. Scenes of tanks from where the lost troops made their last stand.*

But what is the Zone exactly? Is it sentient? Seems so. It reacts to you and changes every minute, setting up traps according to our Stalker. And what of the mysterious dog that appears and follows them? Is there some significance to it? And the ending? Does that suggest the Stalker once entered the room?**

Indeed, it is more of an experience, and one has to experience it first before you can find the answers. The answers may or not come in repeated viewings. In that way, stalker is much like The Zone itself. Or even the Room that is so desired by them.

[SpelingError]

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1992) - 4

This was an artsy and thought-provoking short film which really resonated with me. I find the subject of "life after death" really interesting, especially questions of whether the afterlife will turn out to be a utopia or hellish. Some people who are touched by suicide have a mindset of "If I kill myself, I'll be better off", but of course, there's no way of knowing what happens after you die until your time comes. Due to this ambiguity, another mindset one could have is that you should make the most of your time on Earth since there's no way of knowing what will happen after death. I've been touched by depression in the past and, for this reason, I found the plight of the man in this short film highly relatable. Ultimately, this short film culminated with exactly what I thought it would culminate with, but predictable outcome or not, I still enjoyed the protagonist's arc. The ideas in this short were what stuck out and lingered with me the most. I also loved the animation style. From what I read, the animation was created using practical effects by drying oil paint on sheets of glass, which makes me all the more impressed. Beyond that though, I liked all the atmospheric and moody colors in this short, especially in the surreal dream sequences in the latter half or so. In addition, I especially loved the usages of shadows in certain shots where the background was either indistinguishable or completely black such as the lamppost shot in the beginning and ending since these shots made the characters look isolated from the outside world as if there was nothing around them. Overall, while I don't think this is a great short, I do think it's a really good one and I'm glad I watched it.

Next up: Khrustalyov, My Car!

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77519
The Return (2003)


A powerful film of growing tensions, as an absent father returns home and takes his two estranged sons on a hiking trip that they soon won't forget. This is a well written, well shot, psychological study of a broken family. It felt very Russian to me in it's forlorn heaviness...the air of impending doom hung over the two boys, like an early morning fog over the Volga river.

The scenes & camera shots were never rushed and that gives us time to reflect on the moments at hand, which is important for the film's headiness to sink into one's mind. I liked that this was a linear story which allowed the film to focus intensely on the moment. The use of the personal journal as a narrative tool added to the growing tension.

The two child actors were superb in this. They easily conveyed emotions with just a facial expressions. It was like I knew what they were thinking without them even speaking it.

[Thief]

Even though I'm on the bench, I'm enjoying the reviews so far.

[SpelingError]

Even though I'm on the bench, I'm enjoying the reviews so far.

Out of curiosity, how many of the nominations have you seen (other than Stalker, which I believe you've already watched)?

[Thief]

Out of curiosity, how many of the nominations have you seen (other than Stalker, which I believe you've already watched)?

That's the only one I've seen.

Actually, these are the only Russian/Soviet films I've seen...

Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Viy (1967)
Stalker (1979)
Come and See (1985)
Russian Ark (2002)
Night Watch (2004)
Day Watch (2006)
Mongol (2007, multinational co-production)

That's one of the reasons why I decided to sit this one out. I assumed that either most people here would've seen Potemkin, Come and See, and Stalker, or that someone else would nab them first, and I didn't feel that passionate about the others to nominate them. Night Watch and Day Watch in particular are pretty cringey/bad.

[SpelingError]

That's the only one I've seen.

Actually, these are the only Russian/Soviet films I've seen...

Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Viy (1967)
Stalker (1979)
Come and See (1985)
Russian Ark (2002)
Night Watch (2004)
Day Watch (2006)
Mongol (2007, multinational co-production)

That's one of the reasons why I decided to sit this one out. I assumed that either most people here would've seen Potemkin, Come and See, and Stalker, or that someone else would nab them first, and I didn't feel that passionate about the others to nominate them. Night Watch and Day Watch in particular are pretty cringey/bad.

Aye, gotcha. Hopefully, you'll get some good recs from this thread though.

[Wyldesyde19]

Aw man, I actually have been looking forward to watching Nightwatch and Daywatch for....well....must be 15 years now. (I know, I’m slow)

The director of those films finally has a US release for his latest film, Profile, starting this weekend so I’m planning on seeing it.

[ScarletLion]

'The Cranes are Flying'

https://i.imgur.com/QfI7JMk.gif

I'm a fan of every Kalatozov film that I've seen, and Cranes is right up there with the best of them. The camerawork especially is ground breaking (high angles, low angles, tracking shots, pans, zooms, it's mesmerizing). The acting is perfect. It's one of the greatest war films I've seen, and shows little of the actual battles. Just the story from the perspective of Russia. Yes there's a love story amongst it all but at it's heart it's an anti war film that will live long in the memory.



'The Return'

https://i.imgur.com/wSCk5eN.gif

Beautiful film about loss / coming of age / connections with parents. It's a very mysterious film, as we never really get to know much about the father's intentions. But as with all Zvaginstyev films, the journey is amazing and the cinematography is stunning. I think it's got something to say about how, as a child, you regard your father or your mother, how you compare them, how much (if at all) you strive to be like them. It's like Tarkovsky directing 'The 400 Blows' in an alternate reality.

Excellent film. Incidentally, the film is tinged with ironic tragedy, as the actor who plays the older brother was killed in a swimming pool accident a couple of months after the film was shot. :(

[SpelingError]

We're currently two weeks into this HoF and, so far, jiraffejustin, Takoma11, and Utraviolence haven't submitted a review yet. Of course, there's no rush or anything. Just letting you guys know.

[ScarletLion]

By the way, if any of the gifs above are seen as spoilers, let me know and I'll hide them. Don't want to ruin anyone's viewing.

[Citizen Rules]

By the way, if any of the gifs above are seen as spoilers, let me know and I'll hide them. Don't want to ruin anyone's viewing.I can't speak for anyone else, but I think they're fine, I don't see them spoiling the movies at all. Nice gif choices too!

[ScarletLion]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I think they're fine, I don't see them spoiling the movies at all. Nice gif choices too!

Thanks, when the films are as good looking as the ones in this HoF it's pretty easy pickings.

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks, when the films are as good looking as the ones in this HoF it's pretty easy pickings.Both of those films are really stunning to look at...and have the story narrative that's equally impressive.

[jiraffejustin]

I am almost finished with the Asian hof, I'll be starting up once I wrap up there

[SpelingError]

I am almost finished with the Asian hof, I'll be starting up once I wrap up there
Okay, got it. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Citizen Rules]

I need to finish the Asian HoF and Personal Rec III by their deadlines, then I can really dig into this one.

[Takoma11]

We're currently two weeks into this HoF and, so far, jiraffejustin, Takoma11, and Utraviolence haven't submitted a review yet. Of course, there's no rush or anything. Just letting you guys know.

I'm finishing up another challenge, then I'll be on to this one.

[SpelingError]

I'm finishing up another challenge, then I'll be on to this one.

Okay, got it :up:

[Wyldesyde19]

Same as Tak. Once I finish off the other two, I’ll commit more to this one.
🙂

[SpelingError]

Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998) - 2

I struggled with this film, I must admit. It's a highly surreal film, filled with multiple scenes of dreamlike and fantasy scenarios with an anything goes feel. I enjoyed several sequences as curiosities, with my favorites being Yuri encountering his identical twin in a hospital, his ride to prison, or the ending sequence. I also liked the black and white cinematography and found it to be a nice touch to the film's atmosphere. Overall, the film is certainly inventive and there's a lot of joy to be found in watching the bizarre sequences in the film. What made it difficult for me to stay on board with the film was that I felt this was often at the expense of me forming an emotional connection with Yuri or caring about his character and the various struggles he faces throughout the film. He just felt like a prop amidst all the bizarre set pieces and the film left me rather cold from beginning to end. It's a shame, because there's a lot going for this film in the way of style. I'm also curious to watch German's other films to see if I'd like this one more if I were to return to it. I didn't enjoy his approach here though, I must admit. I may rewatch it before this HoF ends though.

Next up: Letter Never Sent

[Citizen Rules]

Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998) is one I haven't seen, I haven't even heard of. But being surreal can work for me in a movie, if I know it's going to be surreal ahead of time...Otherwise I can think 'hey what the hell is going on', think I'll read about Khrustalyov, My Car! before watching it, sounds trippy and hard to follow.

[SpelingError]

Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998) is one I haven't seen, I haven't even heard of. But being surreal can work for me in a movie if I know it ahead of time, otherwise I can think 'hey what the hell is going on'.

I'm curious what everyone else will think of it. It generally has positive reviews, so I might like it more once I read what the rest of you think.

[Takoma11]

The Cranes Are Flying, 1957

Boris (Aleksey Batalov) and Veronika (Tatyana Samoylova) are young, very much in love, and clearly on the way to a very happy marriage. But when WW2 rolls around, Boris decides to enlist and Veronika is left behind. Not having even had a chance to say goodbye to Boris, Veronika deals with the horrors of war and uncertainty, all as she hopes and waits for Boris to return.

So, like, not to give away the ol' ballot or anything, but might this be one of the best movies I have ever seen? I think maybe the answer is yes. While I was watching the movie, I kept thinking that I wouldn't actually have anything to say about it, because I was experiencing it so much on a purely emotional level. How do you put into words "trying not to cry while standing on my living room rug" in a way that is anything close to a review?

But after the end of the film, I actually find that I have many things worth mentioning.

To begin with, I love movies that portray complicated emotional dynamics with an eye to empathy for the different characters. While Boris and Veronika evoke the most sympathy and deep emotion, the actions of the other characters are also understandable. It is hard to see Boris's family turn on Veronika when she marries the man who sexually assaulted her, but their emotions are totally understandable.

And from a technical/visual point of view, I thought that this was just stunning. From the bookends of Veronika at the parade grounds, to the sequence where she runs through the fiery aftermath of a bombing raid, there were so many memorable and striking sequences. The scene where Mark declares his love and then sexually assaults a stunned Veronika during the bombing raid was so intense on every level.. In moments like that one, the film layers horror on horror.

For a film that only runs about 90 minutes, this is one of the most all-inclusive "war is hell" films I've ever seen. Again, though Boris and Veronika mainly take center stage, one of my favorite sequences is when Veronika goes to see Boris off at the grounds and the camera passes through the crowd of people saying goodbye: a middle-aged husband leaving his wife; a stunned young woman holding an infant as she kisses her young husband goodbye; a man holding his child while his own parents leans against him. It doesn't matter who it is, the burden of war is heavy on those who leave and on those who stay behind. War has a way of fracturing the lives of everyone involved--those who serve and those who are left behind.

If I had one tiny nitpick, it would maybe be that Mark is maybe too convenient of a bad guy. And by that I simply mean that he gives the film its villain, when the only villain it really needed was the war itself. Mark is ultimately excoriated for his cowardice and not, you know, the rape that he committed against a young woman whose parents had just been killed. It is the one element of the film that I am still thinking over. I do realize that he is an important catalyst for the major events in the film. Just still pondering it.

I'm going to say something really shallow now, so hold onto your monocles, film buffs. I had always thought because of the title and the poster that this film wouldn't really be for me. What a lovely way to find out I was wrong.

4.5

[SpelingError]

Letter Never Sent (1959) - 3.5

Mikhail Kalatozov has really been killing it for the past few weeks or so with me. With The Cranes Are Flying and now this film, I'm glad I got to watch a couple of his films for this thread. While I like The Cranes Are Flying a bit more (it sat well with me upon reflection), I also enjoyed this film quite a lot.

This is the kind of film where, instead of analyzing aspects and scenes which I liked, I prefer to say what I felt while watching it. This is in part because I was left in a state of amazement multiple times as I watched it given all the daring shots and set pieces Kalatozov put together. From actually lighting a forest on fire on multiple occasions, to navigating through all kinds of rough terrains, to floating down a fairly rapid, icy river on an unstable wooden raft, I imagine that the act of making this film was just as exciting as the film itself. I also loved the occasional dream-like sequences, such as Tanya and Andrei running to the group after they discovered the diamond mine, Konstantin and Tanya stuck in a thunderstorm, or Konstantin's hallucinations as he floated down a river. They gave the film an extra layer of style which I quite enjoyed. The film also packs quite a bit of suspense and dread into its fairly short runtime. Most of the character deaths were telegraphed ahead of time and were predictable, I suppose, but I wasn't bothered by that as this only made them more dreadful. I also loved the ending. I was convinced the film would have a tragic ending, but I was relieved that at least one of them made it out alive in the end.

My only issue with the film is that Kalatozov made some rather questionable narrative choices. The narrative starts out well by introducing and setting up the stage for a couple character dynamics in the first half hour, like Konstantin's romantic feelings for Tanya (which are complicated since she's already in a relationship with Andrei, another man on their expedition), or Konstantin's rather aggressive personality. Unfortunately though, these sub-plots were pretty much scrapped once the forest fire started and, save for a bit of subtext here and there, weren't explored again. Of course, I still found the final hour of the film compelling for the reasons listed above. I just found it unnecessary for the first half hour to establish these character conflicts given the way they culminated.

Regardless of my issues with the narrative though, I still found the film really enjoyable and, even though it gets off to a rough start, the final hour or so is wholly satisfying on a number of levels.

Next up: The Return

[Thursday Next]

Attention hall of famers!

Please don't forget to submit your foreign language ballot for our upcoming foreign language countdown. The deadline is June 10th.


Click here (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=63464) for more details on how to submit your ballot.

[SpelingError]

Already submitted my ballot. Thanks for the reminder!

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthecinemaarchives.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F09%2Fletters-never-sent-helicopter-opening-798x449.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Letter Never Sent, 1960

A group of geologists, Konstantin (Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy), Tanya (Tatyana Samoylova), Andrei (Vasiliy Livanov), and Sergei (Evgeniy Urbanskiy) are on a mission to locate diamonds in Siberia. But when a forest fire rages through their remote location, things quickly turn into a fight for survival.

Always interesting to watch two films in a row from the same director (and featuring the same actress), in this case watching Letter Never Sent hot on the heels of The Cranes Are Flying.

On the positive side, all of the strengths and interesting techniques that I noted from the first film were on display here. I will say this for Kalatozov: the guy really knows how to shoot fire in a way that makes it feel full-bodied and three dimensional. Much like the sequence in The Cranes Are Flying where Veronika runs through the aftermath of a bombing, the forest fire sequences are beautiful and horrible at the same time and thoroughly dynamic.

I also really liked just how both the camera and the characters move in a way that conveys fear or exhilaration. These larger scale sequences contrast nicely with other more intimate, or even claustrophobic sequences. I really enjoyed the acting, and the characters felt very lived in.

The only downside to having watched both films back to back is that certain sequences in Letter Never Sent, while amazing, are just a bit less amazing than their counterparts in The Cranes Are Flying. For example, the scene in which Sergei corners Tanya in one of their dug-out holes and looms over her, possibly considering sexual assault. (Please tell me if I misread that sequence, people). It immediately brings to mind (SPOILERS for The Cranes Are Flying)Mark looming over Veronika during the bombing raid. Both films even feature a shot of Tatyana Samoylova with her head thrown back and her eyes open but unseeing. I liked a lot of these "echoes", but in each case I felt like their presentation in The Cranes Are Flying was slightly superior.

Letter Never Sent is about 1/3 character drama and 2/3 survival thriller/drama. I felt that both parts were actually pretty well done. The last 15 minutes or so of the film was bleak, and all the more because of the relatively lighter content of the first 10-15 minutes. I did think that it would have been nice to get more interaction between the characters in the last act. But on the other hand, I felt as if the theme of the characters becoming more and more isolated made sense.

Really solid, and another film that I might not have watched purely for superficial reasons, so I am very glad it was nominated here.

4

[SpelingError]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthecinemaarchives.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F09%2Fletters-never-sent-helicopter-opening-798x449.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Letter Never Sent, 1960

A group of geologists, Konstantin (Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy), Tanya (Tatyana Samoylova), Andrei (Vasiliy Livanov), and Sergei (Evgeniy Urbanskiy) are on a mission to locate diamonds in Siberia. But when a forest fire rages through their remote location, things quickly turn into a fight for survival.

Always interesting to watch two films in a row from the same director (and featuring the same actress), in this case watching Letter Never Sent hot on the heels of The Cranes Are Flying.

On the positive side, all of the strengths and interesting techniques that I noted from the first film were on display here. I will say this for Kalatozov: the guy really knows how to shoot fire in a way that makes it feel full-bodied and three dimensional. Much like the sequence in The Cranes Are Flying where Veronika runs through the aftermath of a bombing, the forest fire sequences are beautiful and horrible at the same time and thoroughly dynamic.

I also really liked just how both the camera and the characters move in a way that conveys fear or exhilaration. These larger scale sequences contrast nicely with other more intimate, or even claustrophobic sequences. I really enjoyed the acting, and the characters felt very lived in.

The only downside to having watched both films back to back is that certain sequences in Letter Never Sent, while amazing, are just a bit less amazing than their counterparts in The Cranes Are Flying. For example, the scene in which Sergei corners Tanya in one of their dug-out holes and looms over her, possibly considering sexual assault. (Please tell me if I misread that sequence, people). It immediately brings to mind (SPOILERS for The Cranes Are Flying)Mark looming over Veronika during the bombing raid. Both films even feature a shot of Tatyana Samoylova with her head thrown back and her eyes open but unseeing. I liked a lot of these "echoes", but in each case I felt like their presentation in The Cranes Are Flying was slightly superior.

Letter Never Sent is about 1/3 character drama and 2/3 survival thriller/drama. I felt that both parts were actually pretty well done. The last 15 minutes or so of the film was bleak, and all the more because of the relatively lighter content of the first 10-15 minutes. I did think that it would have been nice to get more interaction between the characters in the last act. But on the other hand, I felt as if the theme of the characters becoming more and more isolated made sense.

Really solid, and another film that I might not have watched purely for superficial reasons, so I am very glad it was nominated here.

4

Nice review! I finished reviewing that one earlier today, in fact. Out of curiosity, what did you think of my review?

[SpelingError]

Also, is Ultraviolence still with us? It's been over two weeks since he's posted on this forum.

[Takoma11]

Nice review! I finished reviewing that one earlier today, in fact. Out of curiosity, what did you think of my review?

I really liked it and agreed with most of what you wrote.

I would say my main point of difference is that, while it is true that a lot of the character development doesn't "pay off", I kind of felt like it worked. It's almost like a Psycho-style thing where what you thought was the conflict ultimately is not the conflict. It kind of highlights the way that what we feel is important in the moment can radically shift in an instant.

[SpelingError]

I really liked it and agreed with most of what you wrote.

I would say my main point of difference is that, while it is true that a lot of the character development doesn't "pay off", I kind of felt like it worked. It's almost like a Psycho-style thing where what you thought was the conflict ultimately is not the conflict. It kind of highlights the way that what we feel is important in the moment can radically shift in an instant.

That's a fair interpretation of the character development. I do like how the abrupt introduction of the forest fire changes the tone right away and I can see that extending to the various character dynamics as well. Another viewing may get me to like that aspect more.

[Takoma11]

That's a fair interpretation of the character development. I do like how the abrupt introduction of the forest fire changes the tone right away and I can see that extending to the various character dynamics as well. Another viewing may get me to like that aspect more.

I will concede that I didn't find the characters SUPER interesting (pre-fire), so some of the hang-out scenes didn't end up being that compelling. But I think that they become more compelling when they become the contrast to what came later.

[SpelingError]

I will concede that I didn't find the characters SUPER interesting (pre-fire), so some of the hang-out scenes didn't end up being that compelling. But I think that they become more compelling when they become the contrast to what came later.
Yeah, I think the first half hour mainly establishes and sets up their character dynamics, so there isn't a whole lot to say about them for the first half hour. One would expect the next hour to develop them further, but of course, that doesn't end up happening, so instead, they act as contrast to the forest fire.

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcriterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcarousel-files%2F781d52992eb75372a93c3d774054a89a.jpeg&f=1&nofb=1

Stalker, 1979

In an undefined future, a man known only as a Stalker (Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy) guides two men, the Writer (Anatoliy Solonitsyn) and the Professor (Nikolay Grinko) into and through a mysterious area known as The Zone. Ostensibly having something to do with a crashed alien ship or something of that nature, the Zone is a strange place. Within the Zone exists a room said to grant the inner desires of those who enter, and we watch as the men wind their way toward it.

So when I was in elementary school, I attended a birthday party and being a total sugar-fiend, I watched in delight as a large chocolate cake was carried to the table. This thing was a dream. The kind of cake that almost looks more like a cartoon than a real thing. I happily queued up for my piece and then, hustling to a seat, took my first bite. It was not good. The chocolate was infused with some sort of fruity extract or flavoring, and even to my young palate, sickly sweet. My body actually rebelled, and I could only bring myself to take one more small bite in the hopes that I'd just gotten an odd bite. It was confusing. How could this thing that looked and smelled so good not be delightful?

I am not saying that Stalker is a gross piece of cake, not even close. But this is the second time that I have watched it and experienced that sense of confusion. Slow-burn sci-fi, amazing visuals---this is a film that is basically made for my tastes and yet I just fail to click with it. Going into this viewing, I even saw this as my second chance. I knew that I hadn't connected with the film when I watched it about 10 years ago, but I figured that I'd matured and seen a lot of films since then, and I would probably have a new appreciation for it.

This viewing, though, was very much the same as the first time. The look of it is stunning. The part of me that responds to films on some sort of weird intuitive/visual level was absolutely thrilled by this film. I had half-remembered certain sequences and images, but they were so much better than I remembered. It's something about the combination of organic forms and off-kilter glimpses of technology. The sequence late in the film in which large light bulbs float in the water, just adding a disconcerting and borderline beautiful element to the background of the action.

Why this film doesn't touch me on a deeper level is something I can't quite figure out. I have seen a handful of Tarkovsky's films (Ivan's Childhood, Solaris, Andrei Rublev and the first 1/3 of Mirror), and Stalker is the least connected to the story that I've felt out of all of them. I am well aware that many people consider Stalker to be Tarkovsky's best, and the word "masterpiece" gets thrown around in regards to it by many people whose taste I appreciate. I don't know what it is that I don't see what they see.

From a technical and visual point of view, this was incredibly engaging. But I never fully clicked with it on an emotional level, and so my appreciation for it was somewhat from a distance.

4

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.tmdb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Fw780%2F7gcmfnJOgqcjMaGaEnTnGOYa9Rf.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, 1992

In this animated short film, a suicidal man (Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy) roams the streets in a disconnected funk. A little girl in distress crosses his path, forcing him to rethink his plan. The man falls asleep and has a series of dramatic and highly symbolic dreams that combine visions of himself and the little girl as well as strange and ancient societies.

First, a huge thumbs up to someone for nominating a short film for this HoF. I was this close to nominating Hedgehog in the Fog (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS5mxXtStOY) before settling on The Return instead. I feel that short films often get short shrift (no pun intended) and are not considered "real movies" by some people, when in fact they sometimes do more with 5-30 minutes than other films get done in 120.

I quite enjoyed this film. I have not read the short story on which it is based, so I can't speak to how well it represents the story. I dug the animation style and how highly visual it was, with little or no dialogue in many stretches. There is a great skill to use visuals so economically to reflect the way that the narrator's feelings about his relationship to the world has changed.

I also liked what I saw as the ultimate message of the film, namely that if your life or the world around you are not what you want them to be, it is worth trying to make a change.

I hadn't heard of this one before and I'm really glad it was recommended here.

4

[SpelingError]

And here I was wondering "Am I actually going to finish this before Takoma?" I guess not though :(

[Takoma11]

And here I was wondering "Am I actually going to finish this before Takoma?" I guess not though :(

You're over half done, though! I tend to watch a film a day on weekends (sometimes 2-3 if it's a lazy day) and about 1/2 of a film on weekdays.

I'm taking this HoF slow since it is a smaller list of films and also this is the last two weeks of school and work is CRAZY.

[SpelingError]

You're over half done, though! I tend to watch a film a day on weekends (sometimes 2-3 if it's a lazy day) and about 1/2 of a film on weekdays.

I'm taking this HoF slow since it is a smaller list of films and also this is the last two weeks of school and work is CRAZY.

Yeah, I'm transitioning between this one and the 25th HoF and am trying to take no more than 3 days to watch and write my review about each film.

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=77923

The Cranes Are Flying (1957)
Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov


Very impressive film in part because of the ground breaking cinematography with camera compositions and selective lighting that has inspired generations of later film makers. Also impressive because of the script that blends personal melodrama with the ever present war that looms over the Soviet landscape like a fog of despair.

Tatyana Samoylova who played the lead Veronika, was amazing. She has this haunting look in her eyes like someone who has seen far too much suffering for someone so young. Through her soulful gaze I could appreciate the amount of hardships the Russian people endured during WWII.

The juxtaposition of the opening scenes, before the war, which are light and joyful, viewed against the second and third acts where the film is more claustrophobic with tight camera shots on the actors stressed faces.

I'm sure The Cranes are Flying is going to be making the Foreign Language countdown!

[SpelingError]

The Return (2003) - 4.5

This film would definitely make a short list of my favorite thrillers. It starts off with a super interesting premise and keeps getting better as it rolls along, culminating with an emotionally oblique and complex final act that resonated with me more than anything I've seen in film for a while.

Even though Andrei and Ivan both reacted to their father's abuse with different degrees of seriousness, both their responses were valid reactions to his behavior. Ivan was the more rebellious and concerned of the two. He protested his father's behavior a lot, refused to address him as his father when speaking to him (I found the ending to be a powerful culmination to this aspect), and experienced most of his father's abuse. His response felt like a natural reaction to his father's behavior. By contrast, Andrei protested his behavior less, was fine with addressing him as his father, and, as a result, experienced less of his abusive behavior, as if he was trying not to get on his father's bad side. I also liked that the film didn't go over-the-top with the father's abuse. Yes, he recurrently physically and emotionally hurt both brothers as the film went on, but it also didn't feel like the film was wallowing in the brutality of this (part of this is because some of the father's behavior simply involved him acting strange rather than abusive). I normally don't do well with seeing characters hurt for long periods of time, but I think Zvyagintsev found a good balance for the father's behavior and made their plight engaging to watch.

While those elements are compelling though, I was mainly drawn to the mystery of the film in regards to which details were left ambiguous and which ones weren't. Throughout most of the film, the possibility that the father might kill his kids was on my mind. This raised questions on what his motives were and if he actually was their father to begin with. The father threatening Andrei with an axe implied that he did intend to kill them for a second, but the next scene implied otherwise. As he chased Ivan through the woods and up the tower, he didn't yell anything like "I'm going to kill you!" Instead, he tried to reason with him and seemed genuinely concerned for his safety. Obviously, this doesn't excuse the way he treated them prior to that scene, but what's important is that he was arguably trying to protect his son when he died rather than hurt him. Given the possibility of that, I didn't feel relieved when their father fell to his death. Instead, I questioned how I initially viewed him and wondered what would've happened if he made it to the top of the tower (I don't think he would've hurt him). Regardless of what his intentions were though, both outcomes lead to compelling results. If their father did intend to kill them, it's good that he died. If he didn't intend to kill them though, that makes the film a tragedy. Those who felt a lack of closure by the film's open-endedness are experiencing the full extent of the film's ambiguously menacing power. Granted though, if I had to nitpick one small detail, the mystery over what was in the box the father dug up on the island was unnecessary and that sub-plot could've been removed. Every other ambiguous aspect though worked phenomenally.

In conclusion, I'm glad I got to watch this film as it's a new personal favorite of mine. It sucked me in right at the beginning and never let go.

Next up: Stalker

[jiraffejustin]

Finishing up my Asian watching tonight. Might go ahead and watch one of these as well.

[ScarletLion]

'Stalker'

https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d918b527aa7a82a60a36220c81ee000/61a3506409080c2e-89/s540x810/5c12847cf2320db409f7e6dd95ce12b18a99b5ce.gif

This nomination gave me a chance to whip out my Criterion Blu Ray of Stalker again. I still have the same thoughts on it as I did when I first watched it. Like most Tarkovsky films, it's difficult to write a review for Stalker. It's not unlike The Mirror in that it's a visual poem that needs experiencing rather than a narrative film that requires understanding. It's cerebral, ethereal, puzzling and hypnotic. There are changing colour palettes and beautiful frame compositions.

Tarkovsky divided opinion and this in some ways could be the ultimate art house film. Is it about Tarkovsksy's views on the Soviet Union? A chilling prophecy on Nuclear accidents? Or just a philosophical attempt to unravel the meaning of life and religion? Three wise men venturing into a far away land. I just enjoyed letting it interfere with my eyes and mind.

Half the crew and Tarkovsky died from cancer after this film. Many on set believe it was as a direct result of shooting in so many toxin-riddled locations for Stalker. Stalker remains one of the most beautiful, mysterious iconic Russian films ever made.

5

[Ultraviolence]

Dear Mofos, I have some really sad news. A very kind friend of mine (and my family) died last week. He was close and his daughter, the poor girl, is devasted right now. If thats not enough sadness to us, I'm with two uncles on hospital with COVID (one of them is at a very critical situation), so of course, my cousins are very worried. My family needs me, I'm so sorry but I'll have do drop. I know all of you will understand my terrible situation. Sorry for any trouble.

Peace.

[ScarletLion]

Dear Mofos, I have some really sad news. A very kind friend of mine (and my family) died last week. He was close and his daughter, the poor girl, is devasted right now. If thats not enough sadness to us, I'm with two uncles on hospital with COVID (one of them is at a very critical situation), so of course, my cousins are very worried. My family needs me, I'm so sorry but I'll have do drop. I know all of you will understand my terrible situation. Sorry for any trouble.

Peace.

Sorry to hear this. Best wishes from MOFO, and of course this HoF should be nowhere near your list of priorities. Take it easy.

[SpelingError]

Dear Mofos, I have some really sad news. A very kind friend of mine (and my family) died last week. He was close and his daughter, the poor girl, is devasted right now. If thats not enough sadness to us, I'm with two uncles on hospital with COVID (one of them is at a very critical situation), so of course, my cousins are very worried. My family needs me, I'm so sorry but I'll have do drop. I know all of you will understand my terrible situation. Sorry for any trouble.

Peace.
Aw, I'm sorry to hear this. I totally understand though. Take care.

[Takoma11]

'Stalker'

https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d918b527aa7a82a60a36220c81ee000/61a3506409080c2e-89/s540x810/5c12847cf2320db409f7e6dd95ce12b18a99b5ce.gif

This nomination gave me a chance to whip out my Criterion Blu Ray of Stalker again. I still have the same thoughts on it as I did when I first watched it. Like most Tarkovsky films, it's difficult to write a review for Stalker. It's not unlike The Mirror in that it's a visual poem that needs experiencing rather than a narrative film that requires understanding. It's cerebral, ethereal, puzzling and hypnotic. There are changing colour palettes and beautiful frame compositions.

Tarkovsky divided opinion and this in some ways could be the ultimate art house film. Is it about Tarkovsksy's views on the Soviet Union? A chilling prophecy on Nuclear accidents? Or just a philosophical attempt to unravel the meaning of life and religion? Three wise men venturing into a far away land. I just enjoyed letting it interfere with my eyes and mind.

5

This is how I wish I felt about this film.

Dear Mofos, I have some really sad news. A very kind friend of mine (and my family) died last week. He was close and his daughter, the poor girl, is devasted right now. If thats not enough sadness to us, I'm with two uncles on hospital with COVID (one of them is at a very critical situation), so of course, my cousins are very worried. My family needs me, I'm so sorry but I'll have do drop. I know all of you will understand my terrible situation. Sorry for any trouble.

Peace.

I am sorry for your loss and wish your uncles a speedy recovery.

[Citizen Rules]

Dear Mofos, I have some really sad news. A very kind friend of mine (and my family) died last week. He was close and his daughter, the poor girl, is devasted right now. If thats not enough sadness to us, I'm with two uncles on hospital with COVID (one of them is at a very critical situation), so of course, my cousins are very worried. My family needs me, I'm so sorry but I'll have do drop. I know all of you will understand my terrible situation. Sorry for any trouble.

Peace.Sorry to hear your sad news. I hope the future is brighter for you and friends and family.

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdbeaver.com%2F208%2Fkhrustalyov_my_car_blu-ray_%2Flarge%2Flarge_14_khrustalyov_my_car_blu-ray.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Khrustalyov, My Car!, 1998

(I know it's out of this HoF, but I watched it so I am reviewing it!)

In the waning days of Stalin's dictatorship, a military man named Klensky (Yurly Tsurilo) awaits the inevitable consequences of the fallout of the Doctors' Plot.

This one was hard for me, to be honest, and it was a combination of several factors.

To begin with, I simply was not (and am not!) familiar enough with Russian history to understand what was happening on the political front. This is the first time I ever heard of the Doctors' Plot, and I only read about it after watching the film. I felt a bit unmoored when it came to the cultural/historical context of the story.

But I also kind of struggled here stylistically. The film is . . . loud. Maybe borderline assaultive. And it maintains that pitch for the entire 140+ minutes of runtime. On one hand, I did sort of admire the way that the film maintained a sort of mania for such a long runtime without utterly collapsing. But it was just too much for me.

And combined with the intensity of the presentation were some uses of animals I didn't love. After the scene with the cat, I kind of tuned out a bit.

This was certainly a different kind of film. I would be very interested to read a review from someone who really enjoyed it.

3

[SpelingError]

Oh, since Ultraviolence dropped out, Khrustalyov, My Car! isn't in this anymore. I edited my message on the first page of this thread, but probably should've made a post here as well. Sorry about that.

EDIT: Just noticed the first sentence in your review.

[jiraffejustin]

Dear Mofos, I have some really sad news. A very kind friend of mine (and my family) died last week. He was close and his daughter, the poor girl, is devasted right now. If thats not enough sadness to us, I'm with two uncles on hospital with COVID (one of them is at a very critical situation), so of course, my cousins are very worried. My family needs me, I'm so sorry but I'll have do drop. I know all of you will understand my terrible situation. Sorry for any trouble.

Peace.

No worries at all. I hope things turn out as good as possible and that some peace can be found soon for you, your family and your friend's daughter.

[Takoma11]

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dookinternational.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F11%2Fa52.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

The Thief, 1997

Sanya (Mikhail Filipchuk) is a 6 year old boy living a transient life with his single mother Katya (Yekaterina Rednikova). One day, the two encounter a charismatic soldier named Tolyan (Vladimir Mashkov) on a train ride and, on a whim, Katya agrees to disembark with him. The three soon find a rental apartment and tensions quickly rise as Katya gives more of her attention to Tolyan. But there is more happening than Sanya can understand, and soon he and his mother are enmeshed in a series of challenging decisions.

This was an interesting entry in the "child POV" drama in the sense that it deftly maintains Sanya's innocence and ignorance while developing the complicated dynamic between Katya and Tolyan. As Katya, and eventually Sanya, come to understand just who Tolyan is, it is clear that the relationship between Katya and Sanya is permanently fractured.

The real surprise of the film is the way that it splits its attention between Katya and Sanya. It is undeniable that Sanya is the main character of the film, but the film does the critical work of helping us to understand the complicated nature of the entire situation. At first it feels easy to be angry at Katya, who seems to be choosing great sex over her own child. But at the same time, Katya has no home. She has no way to support herself and her son. We do not know if Katya is a widow, or if she was simply left by Sanya's father. We do not even know if her story to him about the father being a soldier is even true. But because the film takes the time to help us understand where Katya comes from, we can be frustrated with her choices even as we realize why she might choose the type of stability that Tolyan represents, even if it is wrong.

The film is also very strong in how it presents Sanya's complicated understanding of masculinity. Sanya is haunted by visions of his father, the figure of a soldier who appears to Sanya in moments of stress. But in the here and now, it is Tolyan who most takes the place of a father figure. And the lessons Tolyan teaches to Sanya are the lessons of a violent and manipulative man. Tolyan survives through deception and brutality. He teaches Sanya that respect comes from fear. He directly tells him that violence is part of being a "real man". For Sanya, whose life is already unstable, this is a confusing dynamic.

My only issue with the film had to do with the end. The movie suddenly makes a jump in time. This on its own wasn't the biggest problem, but there was a way that the film winds toward an overly-neat (and coincidental) conclusion that didn't sit quite right with me. There is a focus in the final act on bringing closure to the narrative arc as opposed to the emotional/character arc.

This was a really interesting, well-acted, and compelling film. I really enjoyed it!

4

[jiraffejustin]

I watched two of the nominated films yesterday and I'm going to try to get through a couple more this weekend. The current plan is to do a bulk write-up on everything I've seen this week on Monday.

[Citizen Rules]

78117
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man
(1992, Aleksandr Petrov)

So many wonderful frames in this movie...and each one looks like paintings worthy of an art museum. I loved the look of this with it's warm earth tones and coppery browns. I liked the way the animation moved, kinda slowly and deliberately, which made it feel like I was watching a dream. A man with bleakness in his heart who's contemplating suicide, dreams of hope and of despair...The story paired well with the style of animation. I haven't read anything about the film and I won't claim to know exactly what the writer was saying, but I believe the suicidal man dreamed of heaven, then dreamed of hell...and chose to make his life heaven by caring for others here on Earth. I probably got that wrong, but oh well that was the truth I seen. A very cool nom.

[SpelingError]

Stalker (1979) - 5

Always happy to rewatch my number 1 favorite film (I'm sure you all can tell which film will top my ballot for this HoF). When I first watched Stalker, this was before I was fully accustomed to slow pacing, so I struggled somewhat with it, but I still appreciated it quite a lot. I couldn't explain why, but something about the film felt so alluring and kept inviting me back for more, whether it was the ethereal beauty found in the deserted environments or some various sequences which seemed to have otherworldly qualities. Everything about the pacing should've made me grow bored back then, but while this somewhat happened, I also felt strangely drawn to it for a reason I couldn't put my finger on. I didn't love the film after my first viewing, but what I knew was that Tarkovsky was a director who I should keep an eye out for in the future. Though I struggled with a few of his other films after that, like The Mirror and Solaris, both of which I need to revisit soon, I eventually got around to rewatching this film, which was when I fell in love with Tarkovsky.

In many ways, this is more of a feel than a film. Initially, the transition from sepia to color when they enter the Zone makes the area seem like a haven as opposed to the drab outside world they're stuck in. However, the more we learn about the Zone and the various people who had ventured there prior to the film (like a previous guide named Porcupine who killed himself after becoming rich in the Zone), the more dangers the area is revealed to have, and the more omens they witness as they make their way through it (a group of abandoned army tanks, a black dog which recurs throughout their time in the Zone, or a human skeleton they pass by), the more apparent it is that the room isn't as fulfilling as it appears, thus making the initial jump from sepia to color a façade which conceals many darker undertones. This film has its fair share of ambiguity and every time I watch it, it always leaves me with some unanswered questions, but I never feel unsatisfied by what I don't know about the Zone or the characters. Contrariwise, part of me feels changed every time I finish watching it as the mysterious beauty the film gives off throughout their time in the Zone and, specifically, the tragically beautiful final shot (which would make a short list of my favorite film endings), is more than enough to move and devastate me. I also find many sequences in the film quite moving, like the initial railway car ride into the Zone which has some great, minimalist sound design, the dream sequence which doesn't actually show their dreams, but still feels surreal, and the inexplicably excellent tunnel sequence. Topped with an undercurrent of nuclear disasters and fallouts bubbling underneath the surface of various scenes (this undercurrent is heightened by how the toxic chemicals in the area this film was shot in arguably lead to the deaths of Tarkovsky and two of the three main actors in the film), this film makes for a profound experience every time I rewatch it.

Last up: The Thief

[jiraffejustin]

Letter Never Sent (1960; Mikhail Kalatozov)

https://i.imgur.com/d4DU2cC.png

The camerawork in this film is fluid and dynamic and it feels like every cool technique they could come up with was thrown in. The problem is, even if it hadn't been nominated, I will compare this to Kalatozov's true masterpiece: The Cranes Are Flying. As amazing as the cinematograpny and direction is in Letter Never Sent, it's all even better in The Cranes. I hate that I even think like that, because rationally, it's just awesome that we get both of these films. I am still a little torn on that weird flame effect that was used as foreshadowing, but at least after it was revealed to be foreshadowing it made more sense. Cranes is the absolute top tier of black-and-white cinematography, so Letter would have to be the elite tier just below that. Tatyana Samoylova is *chef kiss*.

The Return (2003; Andrey Zvyagintsev)

https://i.imgur.com/cfBsRBJ.png

At first I was a little put off by all the blues and grays, it looked drab and ugly and like a lot of other films of the early 2000s. There were times, early in the film, where I thought "this is beautiful, but God, it's ugly". After some reflection on this, it kinda makes sense for a Russian film. It would be really easy for a film like this to immediately turn into a typical thriller about this opressive, abusive figure popping up out of the blue and banging out a bunch of tropes and sending us home with the boys killing him with no remorse or regret. Instead, we get the way more interesting story without the motivations of the father being clear. We don't even know what he was up to, other than maybe he was involved in crime in someway, and we don't even know what was in the lockbox that presumably brought the father to the island. We can assume the mother called the father to provide a masculine figure to toughen the boys up after she witness her youngest boy being a little p*ssy. Then we have to grapple with how far the father took it to either toughen up his boys that he thought he probably wasn't going to spend much time with as quickly as possible or whether he was just an abusive prick who enjoyed torturing the people around him or he was honoring the mother's request out of duty but had no patience with the boys. The complexity of the relationships between the three male characters carry the film for me. I'd be down for watching this again in the near future.

The Thief (1997; Pavel Chukhray)

https://i.imgur.com/JDR9mBE.png

This film doesn't look bad in anyway, but it looks almost average when it has to be held up against the likes of Tarkovsky, Kalatozov, Zvyagintsev, and Petrov. It has one of the more straight-up stories that feel like they could have come from any country. I guess that's sort of damning with faint praise, but it's a welcome change to some of the heavier films nominated. Not to say there isn't a lot of heaviness in this film, but not every aspect of the film is drenched in it the way Cranes or Stalker are. Toljan is an interesting character at face-value, but when you get down to it, he is just your typical smooth-talking, scumbag. I think the examination of that and how some vulnerable can be taken advantage of by this type of person. The whole time the person being taken advantage of is just a disposable tool to someone like Toljan. I was fascinated by Toljan throughout the film, so the final scenes are perfect because you come to the same realization as Sanja at the end. There are bits of this that are a little clunky, like some of the relationship stuff between Sanja and his real father and Katja and Toljan's relationship was a mixed-bag for me. The one thing about it that was great, was the depiction of Katja as desperate and vulnerable.

[Takoma11]

http://d17389e216ygm.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Screen-Shot-2014-11-23-at-2.21.41-AM.png

The Return, 2003

Two brothers, Ivan (Ivan Dobronravov) and Andrei (Vladimir Garin) are shocked then their absentee father (Konstantin Lavronenko) returns after a 12 year absence. The two boys and their father embark on a weekend road trip, but tensions rise as Ivan takes an increasingly defiant attitude toward his father. The question of why the father has returned and where he has been hangs over them.

This was my nomination, but it's something I haven't seen since it came out in 2003. Generally speaking, movies I liked in my late teens or early 20s often go down in my esteem when I rewatch them. I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed this film a second time around.

I'll start by saying that I had remembered some stuff that is not in the film. I think I was conflating it with another film. I thought I remembered some ominous men who appeared in the movie, but that's not at all what this film is after.

This is a sub-genre I really enjoy: character-based thrillers. The tension derives almost entirely from the dynamics between the characters. There are hints of something amiss, such as when the father strikes out on his own in a remote, rural spot.

The best part of the film is the dynamic between the brothers and their father. Andrei, who is older, clearly craves the approval and love of his long-absent father. But Ivan, who is too young to have romantic notions of the man, is a mix of resentment and suspicion. It doesn't help that so many of their father's interactions with them---the kind of "character building"/be a REAL MAN stuff--border on abusive or violent. Lacking the grounding of a real relationship, his attempts come of more creepy than caring, such as when he insists on serving them alcohol at a meal, or makes them row a boat in a heavy rain. The question of why he has returned seems tangled up in the question of whether he intends to stay. Both questions linger and linger, and the lack of clarity begins to wear on both boys, especially Ivan.

I think that this is a solid thriller, and I am really pleased that my positive opinion from so many years ago has mostly been upheld. I'm glad to see that a few others in this thread have also enjoyed it.

4.5

[SpelingError]

Takoma is the first one to finish! Nice job :up:

[SpelingError]

The Thief (1997) - 3.5

This film shared some similarities with The Return as both films come from the perspective of a child who had lived with their mother for a while until a suspicious father figure whose intentions were mysterious entered their lives. While I think The Return is the better of the two films, I also enjoyed this film quite a bit. What stood out the most about this film was its focus on the three main characters. Tolyan was definitely the most interesting of the three of them. Little about his intentions were known and it was also unclear whether he genuinely cared for Katya and Sanya, or if he was just using them to help with his thievery both directly and indirectly. Though I wished the ending would've left his intentions more ambiguous than it did, I still really liked his character. Regardless of what he wanted out of Katya and Sanya though, both of them reacted to his behavior differently. For instance, Katya initially acted welcoming towards him in the first act. Though she treated her son as an outcast and rejected him in place of Tolyan during this part of the film, I also understood why she was grateful at Tolyan's arrival given she lost her husband several years prior to the start of this film. The impression I got was that she was in desperate need of the kind of love and attention he provided for her. But of course, Katya began to distrust him once she learned he was a thief. Sanya's reaction, on the other hand, was in direct opposition to his mother's. He initially distrusted Tolyan since he was often pushed around by both him and Katya, but warmed up to him as the film went on, even after he was made aware of his criminal behavior. Sanya acted rather naïve around Tolyan and was unable to fully understand or make sense of what he was doing. As mentioned earlier, the final act didn't sit right with me given the overly-neat way it wrapped up the characters, but in spite of this, I found all three characters to be memorable for different reasons and I think the dynamics amongst them carried the film really well.

[SpelingError]

And, I'm finished. I trust the rest of you will be able to finish in time (let me know if you need me to extend the deadline of July 10th).

[Wyldesyde19]

I’ll be able to start this in earnest this coming week. 🙂

[Citizen Rules]

I'll be done before July with any luck.

[ScarletLion]

'Letter Never Sent'

So this is my own nomination, which I only watched fairly recently, my review went something like this~:

My third Mikhail Kalatozov film, and while not having the poignancy as Soy Cuba or Cranes are flying, it has more of an adventure feel to it. Four geologists search for a diamond mine in Siberia, and things go wrong.

Kalatozov's right hand man Sergey Urusevskiy simply has to be spoken about as one of the greatest ever cinematographers. The images are breathtaking and remind the viewer of scenes from The Revenant, Children of Men, Arctic, The Ascent, etc etc. Four geologists go diamond hunting in the Siberian wilderness but a forest fire traps them and they struggle to get out. The ensuing chaos, desperation and isolation also reminds the viewer of the film 'Alive' when as the struggle to survive is so real. But it's the cinematography that really sets this film apart. The silhouette shot that is on the cover of the Criterion print is one of the most iconic shots in Russian cinema. The film is brilliant.

If you're a film lover, seek as many Kalatozov's out as you can.

4.5

[ScarletLion]

'Dream of a ridiculous Man'

Wow. This was so beautiful I watched it twice. Dreamlike animation, beautiful image composition. Seems to be about our collective human existentialism and how we treat others. Hard to really put into words, as I expect most of Dostokevsky's work is. But what a treat, really great nomination. Thanks.

[ScarletLion]

And now I've just watched Petrov's 'The Old Man and the Sea' and am almost in tears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNCxNntn2yc

[SpelingError]

Also, in terms of Soviet/Russian animation, you should all check out Yuri Norstein's work (Tale of Tales and Hedgehog in the Fog, mainly). His stuff is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTowzpTwv4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS5mxXtStOY
(Takoma's already mentioned this one, but I'm doing it again to highlight how great it is).

[SpelingError]

Citizen Rules jiraffejustin ScarletLion Wyldesyde19

This is just a reminder that you all have a bit over a month left to finish this (the deadline is July 10th).

[Wyldesyde19]

Staaaahhhppp yelling at me!
J/k!
I’m starting this up in earnest this week.

[SpelingError]

Staaaahhhppp yelling at me!
FASTER! FASTER! FASTER!

[Citizen Rules]

@Citizen Rules (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=84637) @jiraffejustin (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=76459) @ScarletLion (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=75823) @Wyldesyde19 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=104656)

This is just a reminder that you all have a bit over a month left to finish this (the deadline is July 10th).I actually watched one last night, I'll do a write-up for it at the end of the day.

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78382
The Thief (1997)

I enjoyed the movie as it was easy to follow with just three main characters and I always had a handle on just what they were about. With foreign language films sometimes multiple characters with inner-cut stories and dialog heavy...ends up loosing me as I can never get a real feel for who these people are. But in The Thief everyone's motives were cut and dry. The other plus for me was the period piece story set in the late 1950s, Soviet union. I don't know what was sets and what was authentic from the mid 20th century...But I do know the prison building looked real as it looked quite dilapidated. I wonder if it was used for political prisoners during the reign of Stalin?

[Wyldesyde19]

Picking this back up tonight after work!

[Wyldesyde19]

Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Now this was a treat. I’m not familiar with Russian animation, but this had me hooked from the moment it’s muddled images appeared, as if it was indeed a dream. Or maybe a nightmare? A descent into madness perhaps? Or a stream of consciousness that can’t be contained no longer.

A man contemplates suicide. He is interrupted by a girl. She needs his assistance, her mother needs help. He rebuffs her. And yet he can’t forget her. She continues to appear, as if a haunting image to signify his guilt?
Or is she hope?

I can’t discern all of the metaphors, if that’s what they were, but I don’t need to. I recognize it’s impact regardless. And I do recognize it as being existential.

The animation was suitably muddled and hazy as one might expect from a dream, or nightmare. And the sound was great for a animated short. The footsteps as he ran down the street reminded me of Harry Lime running down the streets at night, his footsteps echoing in the dark. And the clanking of the stones.

This was an amazing short, and I also admit that shorts are a subject I am light on, which I’d like to remedy at some point. This was a good start.

[Wyldesyde19]

I was going to watch The Thief this weekend, but since The Return just made the recent countdown, I think I’ll watch that instead.
Besides, I’ve already seen The Thief once, so it can wait.

[SpelingError]

I was going to watch The Thief this weekend, but since The Return just made the recent countdown, I think I’ll watch that instead.
Besides, I’ve already seen The Thief once, so it can wait.

Both films share similar themes, so I'm curious which one you'll like more. I liked The Return more, personally.

[Wyldesyde19]

Both films share similar themes, so I'm curious which one you'll like more. I liked The Return more, personally.

That’s a good question. One I’ll enjoy debating. I really liked The Theif, although I’ve seen it once a year ago. So I’m interested to see how it holds up on rewatch.

[jiraffejustin]

The first three films I watched for this HoF were my first-time watches, the next three were rewatches of films that I would already have given the highest possible score to.

Stalker

While watching this one back, I started thinking that this could be the greatest film ever made. It still might not be my number 1 in this HoF, and I don't mean that I am putting it behind my own nomination either. It feels like no other film I've ever seen, it nails this melancholy, tension, and mystery so well. But you could say "nothing happens" in this film, just three dudes walking around some abandoned place. And yet I stayed completely gripped the whole time. In the last couple of years, my opinion of Tarkovsky, while already high, has skyrocketed. I think he is probably the greatest film director of all-time.

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

My own nom. It's a five-star animated classic by one of the greatest animation directors of all-time. His paint-on-glass style is beautiful and creates a fluidity that is hard to match, but it also creates an abstract quality that he can then manipulate to change the atmosphere of the film. When we enter the dream sequence, the way the paint streaked and looked murky enhanced the whole thing. Petrov and Dostoyevsky together matched perfectly, both creative geniuses.

Cranes Are Flying

I thought Stalker was going to be my number 1, but after my second viewing of The Cranes Are Flying, I think this might be my favorite film of all-time... or at least pretty damn close. Tatiana Samoilova gives my favorite performance of all-time. Kalatozov is clearly an auteur with his own specific style that is incomparable. When people talk about great fighters in lower weight divisions, they scale upwards by talking about pound-for-pound rankings, well The Cranes Are Flying checks in at close to 100 minutes, which isn't short, but isn't very long either. It's scene-for-scene one of the greatest for sure. The shelling scene is incredible, the scene where Boris' father gives his motivational speech to wounded soldier while the destroyed Veronica stands behind him being furthered devastated. These are all-timers to me.

[SpelingError]

Jiraffejustin is third to finish this. That leaves Citizen Rules, ScarletLion, and Wyldesyde.

[Takoma11]

be my number 1, but after my second viewing of The Cranes Are Flying, I think this might be my favorite film of all-time... or at least pretty damn close. Tatiana Samoilova gives my favorite performance of all-time. Kalatozov is clearly an auteur with his own specific style that is incomparable. When people talk about great fighters in lower weight divisions, they scale upwards by talking about pound-for-pound rankings, well The Cranes Are Flying checks in at close to 100 minutes, which isn't short, but isn't very long either. It's scene-for-scene one of the greatest for sure. The shelling scene is incredible, the scene where Boris' father gives his motivational speech to wounded soldier while the destroyed Veronica stands behind him being furthered devastated. These are all-timers to me.

Yes, the way that so many narrative and emotional arcs are portrayed without ever becoming sprawling is amazing. Nothing against longer films, but to me the more compact runtime lends an urgency and intimacy to the proceedings. It also means that there is almost no redundancy and that every scene moves the film forward, even if it is a smaller moment.

[Wyldesyde19]

Starting The Return tomorrow.

Looking forward to it.

[Citizen Rules]

I started watching Letter Never Sent only the English subs wouldn't show and my Russian is a bit rusty:p I'll try again soon.

[SpelingError]

I started watching Letter Never Sent only the English subs wouldn't show and my Russian is a bit rusty:p I'll try again soon.

Try watching this version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVU_Xu_AXNQ

[Citizen Rules]

Try watching this version:
Thanks for the vid. But I like to watch the movies on my TV and steaming youtube to my old tv is difficult.

[Wyldesyde19]

I have a review to do, but if I don’t get to it tonight, it’ll be tomorrow.

[Citizen Rules]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=78859
Letter Never Sent (1959)

Do you know, how I know, a film has stunning cinematography?...The answer: when I can't make up my mind on which of the screenshots to use for my review, as they're all so damn good!

Letter Never Sent was a cool nom! It reminded me of The Cranes are Flying. Maybe that is because of Tatyana Samoylova's presences in both films. She's a highlight to be sure. But what really make's me think of that other classic Russian film is the omnipresence stamp of the Soviet Union upon both films. That's not a complaint, I love that both films are steeped in the era and beliefs of the time. I never try to judge films by today's standards that would be a disservice to other cultures and peoples.

Sure Letter Never Sent has ample Soviet ideology wove into it...and yet the director dared to have a bit of fun at the Kremlin's expense. I got a kick out of the scene when the Soviet mouth piece was broadcasting over the radio about how glorious was the results of the diamond locating-geologist expedition...while the poor geologist are struggling just to survive in a midst of a wildfire.

I feel like I could write a book length review here, that's also a good sign that the film was something special. But I'll just say that Letter Never Sent was a very unique watch...and this is why I join HoFs!

[Wyldesyde19]

The Return


Two young boys are reunited with their father, who has been absent for 12 years, and both have different ideas on how to react to him.

Andrei is the eldest, and welcomes his return, evidently longing for any contact with his father. Ivan, the youngest, is immediately suspicious and resentful. It seems his instincts are right, as it soon becomes apparent that their “father” has returned for his own reason.

It’s interesting to watch how they both view and react to their father, who demands obedience and punished them harshly when they don’t please him. And while we never discover what he had, in fact, come for, or why he even brought them along to begin with, it’s also not the point. The focus is squarely on the two children, and how they respond to the return (dun-sun-dun!) of their father.

The films is well acted, and beautifully shot. But, much like the father, it comes off as too detached and aloof. There’s too much mystery with no explanation Still, it’s a really good film, and I suspect it may get better with repeated viewings.

Good pick

[SpelingError]

Hello, this is just your annoying, I mean, friendly reminder that you have two weeks left to finish this thread. Both Citizen Rules and ScarletLion have one film left and Wyldesyde19 has three films left.

[Wyldesyde19]

I need links for Cranes and Letter never sent if possible please.

[SpelingError]

I need links for Cranes and Letter never sent if possible please.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVU_Xu_AXNQ

Ignore the different title. It's the same film. I'll dm a link for Cranes shortly.

[Wyldesyde19]

I’ll be getting to both of these in the next few days.

Then I’ll have my own nomination to finish up next week.

[SpelingError]

Cool :up:

I assume that Citizen Rules and ScarletLion will be able to finish up their final film as well.

[Citizen Rules]

Cool :up:

I assume that Citizen Rules and ScarletLion will be able to finish up their final film as well.Yup, I'm basically done now. I just need to write up Stalker. I should have some free time to do that tomorrow. I would've already done it but we were without power most of yesterday and the day before. Oh did I mention it was also 104 in the the shade! Bad time to lose power:eek:

[SpelingError]

Yup, I'm basically done now. I just need to write up Stalker. I should have some free time to do that tomorrow. I would've already done it but we were without power most of yesterday and the day before. Oh did I mention it was also 104 in the the shade! Bad time to lose power:eek:

I feel that. Our air conditioning was broken for a few weeks, and I had to move all my stuff to the basement since it was cooler down there. Fortunately though, it was fixed today, so that's good.

[Takoma11]

Oof.

My power went out yesterday and everything has been restored . . . except for my HVAC system. Luckily I was able to work a few hours today in an air conditioned school, but the second floor of my house is like an oven.

[Citizen Rules]

79047
Stalker(Tarkovsky 1979)

Much has been written about Stalker and yet for me words fail to convey the personal resonance the film achieves. Like a tuning fork that's been struck, the sensation is real and yet the tuning fork seems placid. Stalker achieves much by not being obvious. In the zone the laws of physics seem inapplicable, yet the ever changing mystery is palpable as the participants believe it to be so...so then did I.

No other movie that I can think of is more akin to a spiritual faith via film, than Stalker...and that's saying a lot.

[SpelingError]

Citizen Rules is the 4th one to finish. That leaves ScarletLion and Wyldesyde.

[Wyldesyde19]

Ok, was delayed by being too tired to watch any movie the last 3 days, but with 3 Day weekend, going to tackle the same two I’ve been meaning to the last week.

[SpelingError]

Ok, was delayed by being too tired to watch any movie the last 3 days, but with 3 Day weekend, going to tackle the same two I’ve been meaning to the last week.
Sounds good :up:

Let me know if you'd like me to extend the deadline by a week.

[Wyldesyde19]

Sounds good :up:

Let me know if you'd like me to extend the deadline by a week.
I should be fine. Plenty of time to knock them out

[SpelingError]

You have exactly one week left to finish this thread. ScarletLion has one film left and Wyldesyde19 has three films left.

[Wyldesyde19]

Watched the Cranes earlier. Will watch Letter never sent next.
Reviews will be up later.

[Wyldesyde19]

The Cranes are Flying


With war movies, it isn’t necessarily about the war itself, but the characters in them, and the effects the war has on said characters.

Veronika (Tatiana Samoilova) and Boris (Aleksy Batalov) are two such characters. Lovers torn apart by war, they both live their lives trying to survive, in their own manner. The film focuses mainly on Veronika, and it’s easy to see why. She’s the heart and soul of this film.

Samoilova is just simply amazing here. The way she carries herself throughout the film, and how she is able to express her emotions through her eyes, her facial expressions, all told with such fierce determination.

I won’t go into the plot because it how the plot is told that matters. The directors camerawork is among the best I’ve seen from that time. From the way Veronika runs through smoke and oncoming tanks to the scene where she runs past a fence. And the little details. Like how she wears a black dress for the entirety of the war and when the soldiers return, she wears white as she awaits for her lover to return.

Such an amazing film. But of course, this HOF is full of them.

[Wyldesyde19]

Letter never sent is set to be watched tomorrow. 4th of July interrupted my plans.

[ScarletLion]

'The Thief' (1997).

Really enjoyed this film. Had no idea what to expect. The quality wasn't great and i'm disappointed it hasn't had a blu ray as it's film that was seemingly received very well on release. The little lad plays the central character very well and the emotional moments are executed nicely. It rekindled memories of quite a few films like Shoplifters / Bicycle thieves and even Wildlife. There's a heartbreaking image towards the end that concerns the boy's mother that will stay with me for a long time. It perhaps could have done with a slightly longer third act to create a bit more tension.

But a worthwhile entry, and that's my noms all done.

[SpelingError]

ScarletLion is the 5th to finish (I still need his ballot though).

That leaves Wyldesyde with two films left.

[Wyldesyde19]

Letter Never Sent

After watching the amazing Cranes, I was interested to see how Kalazatov was able to follow up on it.
I have my answer, and it’s not as good as some others consider.

Now don’t get me wrong, the direction is is still great, and the black and white cinematography looks amazing, and Samoilova shows a different kind of depth behind her Tanya in this.

But the film left me indifferent, and somehow didn’t seem that exciting considering the story. Maybe it was just expecting too much considering Cranes floored me. Kalazotov strips the film bare and relies on the actors to convey their emotion and the cinematography to present the hopelessness. But it somehow lacks a human touch, somehow. Maybe he was too far removed from it with his direction.

It’s not a bad film, but there is far better films that are ahead of it.

[Wyldesyde19]

Also, let me just say that this HOF has introduced me to Samoilova and I’m totally smitten. Not only a great actress from what I’ve seen but also so dark and beautiful.
*swoons*

[SpelingError]

Fun Fact: The top two films for this HoF are currently tied, so this means that Wyldesyde's ballot will declare the winner. Not to put pressure on him, but...jk, I do mean to put pressure on him.

79230

[SpelingError]

Also, Wyldesyde has two days left to finish up the last film for this HoF, but I'm sure he'll finish in time.

[Wyldesyde19]

Yep, starting up The Thief tonight.

[Citizen Rules]

Fun Fact: The top two films for this HoF are currently tied, so this means that Wyldesyde's ballot will declare the winner. Not to put pressure on him, but...jk, I do mean to put pressure on him.Ha! Some great films in this HoF and the others were also very intriguing. Wylde hurry up! So we can see which film won:)

[Wyldesyde19]

Starting The Thief tonight. Storm knocked our power out last night.

[SpelingError]

Starting The Thief tonight. Storm knocked our power out last night.

Just a brief reminder that you have the rest of today to finish up The Thief.

[Wyldesyde19]

The Thief


Sanja is born to a single mother a year after WWII ends. His father, a soldier, has died. Circumstances in life haven’t been kind to him and his mother before he was even born.

By the time he is six, his bond with his mother is the only thing he knows and as a result, is strong. So when a soldier appears and seduces his way into his mothers bed and his home, it becomes a battle for her attention. Gradually, the soldiers violent behavior begins to show. In time, the mother and the son switch places on how they view the soldier.

The director shoots the film mostly from the point of view from Sanja, and there are allusions to Hamlet when he sees his fathers ghost on occasion. It even ask for Veangence, and so the son sees the soldier in a new light, especially after his treatment of his mother who Sanja holds so dear.

Tragedy tears them apart. Fate brings it full circle. The ending is just as tragic as it is violent.

Paver Chukhray is the son of Grigory, himself a famous director. Here he shows he had inherited some of his fathers talent. The films reminds me a bit of The Return, and even has a similar scene.

All three principle actors are good, but the film hinges on the child. He succeeds, which is no small feat.

This is a great film, one that holds up on a second viewing. But even I must admit that there were even better films in this HOF.
But it’s in good company.

[Wyldesyde19]

Ballot sent. As I mentioned in my PM to Spellling, this was a great HOF. I wouldn’t even be disappointed if there were a tie at the top.
I’m rooting for Cranes or Stalker to get the top spot, or seven a tie, but even Dream of a Ridiculous Man and The Thief are worthy films that are deserving.

Thank you again, Spelling, for hosting.

[Thief]

Great job, SpelingError! Even though I didn't join, I was following this, reading reviews, and I've added all of this films to my watchlist.

[Wyldesyde19]

Hopefully he hosts more. I’d be interested in seeing his other interests are through these.

[SpelingError]

Thanks y'all! I might host the next main HoF (unless someone else is already doing it; I'll have to speak to Citizen Rules for info on that). I don't know if I'd have time for two HoFs when college starts up, but when summer comes around, I should have more time to do another specialty HoF.

Also, I'll post the results tomorrow if you all are okay with that as I'm leaving for something in about 10 minutes.

[Citizen Rules]

Hopefully SpelingError hosts more. I’d be interested in seeing his other interests are through these.I whole heartily agree!

Thanks y'all! I might host the next main HoF (unless someone else is already doing it; I'll have to speak to Citizen Rules for info on that)...We just call shotgun, you know first to ask will host an HoF. So far no one has said that they wanted to host the 26th HoF. I'd be happy as a clam, if you hosted the 26th HoF🙂 I've already been thinking about my nom.

[SpelingError]

I whole heartily agree!

We just call shotgun, you know first to ask will host an HoF. So far no one has said that they wanted to host the 26th HoF. I'd be happy as a clam, if you hosted the 26th HoF🙂 I've already been thinking about my nom.

Could I host the next one then? I assume it would go up a few days or a week after the 25th HoF ends.

Also, are you the main person who runs HoFs? I notice that you log all the winners in the Archives thread, but I'm not sure if there's an actual head of these threads or not.

[Citizen Rules]

Could I host the next one then? I assume it would go up a few days or a week after the 25th HoF ends. It's not up to me, it's not up to any one person...Like I said our MoFo tradition is for the first person who says that they want to host...they get to host...So you're the host of the 26th by reason that you called it first🙂 And the details of the 26th will be up to you. Usually the next main HoF starts shortly after one ends but that will be up to you too.

Also, are you the main person who runs HoFs?No, there is no main person. I do run my share of them, BUT it's an equal thing, whoever wants to host an HoF can. We are all equal here!

I notice that you log all the winners in the Archives thread, but I'm not sure if there's an actual head of these threads or not.
Nope no head of the HoFs. We did try that once long ago and it was a s***-fest. All sorts of fights happened because of that. That's why I'm quick to say no one can tell another person if they can or can't run an HoF.

Just think of me as a mere museum curator or score keeper at a ball game. I don't make the rules I just log the results of the various HoFs.

[SpelingError]

Aye, gotcha. I'll be happy to host the next main HoF then. Looks like it'll be fun.

[SpelingError]

#6:

79307

The Thief (1997, Pavel Chukhray)

Ballot Rankings: 3rd, 5th, 5th, 5th, 6th, 6th

Total Points: 12

[SpelingError]

I had The Thief at #6 on my ballot, though I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

[ScarletLion]

Yeah the quality of this HoF was so high that even the 6th place film is a very solid one.

[Citizen Rules]

Oh this started? I didn't realize that and I was online too.

The Thief was my #5 movie, a fine movie too, just so many other great movies in the HoF.

[SpelingError]

There's a two way tie between the next two films. Who here thinks they know what the films are?

[Citizen Rules]

There's a two way tie between the next two films. Who here thinks they know what the films are?Not Stalker or The Cranes are Flying...So I'll guess The Return and The Dream of a Ridiculous Man.

[ScarletLion]

There's a two way tie between the next two films. Who here thinks they know what the films are?

Dream of a Ridiculous Man and Letter Never Sent

[SpelingError]

#4=:

79308

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1992, Aleksandr Petrov)

Ballot Rankings: 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 6th, 6th

Total Points: 16

#4=:

79309

Letter Never Sent (1960, Mikhail Kalatozov)

Ballot Rankings: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 5th, 6th, 6th

Total Points: 16

[SpelingError]

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man was #4 on my ballot and Letter Never Sent was #5 on my ballot.

[Citizen Rules]

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man effective, somber animation & story. Had this been a Short Film HoF it might have been my #1 vote. I had it at #6 but only because it was hard to rank it against the other films.

Letter Never Sent, another great nom and glad to have watched it. It was my #3

[SpelingError]

#3:

79310

The Return (2003, Andrey Zvyagintsev)

Ballot Rankings: 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 4th, 5th

Total Points: 21

[Wyldesyde19]

Which means Stalker and Cranes tied and this was the result I was hoping for. Both are deserving winners.

[SpelingError]

The Return was #2 on my ballot. It's also one of my 10 favorite thrillers of all time, which is as follows:

Clean, Shaven (1993, Lodge Kerrigan) United States
Le Samouraï (1967, Jean-Pierre Melville) France and Italy
M (1931, Fritz Lang) Germany
The Night of the Hunter (1955, Charles Laughton) United States
Parasite (2019, Bong Joon Ho) South Korea
Persona (1966, Ingmar Bergman) Sweden
The Return (2003, Andrey Zvyagintsev) Russia
Touch of Evil (1958, Orson Welles) United States
Vertigo (1958, Alfred Hitchcock) United States
The Wages of Fear (1953, Henri-Georges Clouzot) France and Italy

Huge thank you to Takoma for recommending it :up:

[Citizen Rules]

I had The Return at #4, so did some other people I see. Solid film.

[SpelingError]

Also, Stalker and The Cranes Are Flying have a difference of only one point.

[Wyldesyde19]

Also, Stalker and The Cranes Are Flying have a difference of only one point.
I was confused at first and then went back and read the post about ties and realized you said two films and not two different ties. My bad

[SpelingError]

I was confused at first and then went back and read the post about ties and realized you said two films and not two different ties. My bad

Yeah, there was just one tie in this HoF with The Dream of a Ridiculous Man and Letter Never Sent.

[Wyldesyde19]

Yeah, there was just one tie in this HoF with The Dream of a Ridiculous Man and Letter Never Sent.
I fail at reading comprehension haha

[SpelingError]

#2:

79312

Stalker (1979, Andrei Tarkovsky)

Ballot Rankings: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th

Total Points: 30

#1:

79313

The Cranes Are Flying (1957, Mikhail Kalatozov)

Ballot Rankings: 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd

Total points: 31

[SpelingError]

Stalker was #1 on my ballot. It's also #1 on my all-time favorite's list, so there ya go :D

I put The Cranes Are Flying at #3. I really liked it and it's definitely a great film, but both Stalker and The Return resonated with me slightly more. As for Kalatozov, I Am Cuba is my favorite of his films.

Regardless, it's still a deserving winner and was also my nomination (I hadn't seen it prior to this thread though), so yay!

[Wyldesyde19]

Great job hosting Spelling! Grats to Cranes winning. More Samoilova please!

[Citizen Rules]

Big thanks to SpelingError for hosting, Great job!

Congratulations to The Cranes are Flying and SpelingError!

And nice choice of noms everyone🙂

[Citizen Rules]

My voting list:

1 Stalker
2 The Cranes Are Flying
3 Letter Never Sent
4 The Return
5 The Thief
6 The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

[Thief]

Great job, Speling!

[jiraffejustin]

31 to 30, wow. Stalker misses out by a single point, but both films are legit 5 classics to me. Both deserve the spot, I'm sure Stalker will make it at some point.

[Takoma11]

Great job, SpelingError, and a great list of films everyone. Aside from Stalker (and obviously aside from my own nomination) they were all first watches.

And personally I'm glad you all liked The Return. I wasn't totally sure how it'd be received, as sometimes films I find really moving can fall flat for others.