Post by mabuse on Sept 6, 2005 18:28:35 GMT -5
;D Indeed, the Russian film-industry is not dead! Karen Shakhnazarov's take on the novel by Boris Savinkov, who could be equated with the main-character "Georges", is nearly-flawless! Evoking Moscow during the 1905 Revolution, we are given access to the very secret world of a terrorist-cell. It is unlikely, and Shakhnazarov's film illustrates this, that terrorism has changed much at-all. From the lushness of Tsarist-circles, to the beggars in the alleys of Moscow, it's a vivid recreation of a time that is gone--and yet still alive with Chechen-bombings in the city.
As part of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, Georges and his cell anticipate Bolshevik-terror, and a complete-surrender to nihilism. That is evident in cell-leader Georges most-of-all. While his compatriots have their own reasons, Georges appears to have no other reason for directing his terror-attacks than a desire to kill, to stir Russian-society towards...what?
Even Georges seems to be unsure why he does-what-he-does. That is not an uncommon feeling for terrorists, as the Weather Underground amply displayed. In-short, a cell-leader is responsible for harnessing all these different reasons these individuals have "come to the cause."
There are so many powerful moments in this film, that you really must watch it to appreciate the scope of this film. It's THAT good. Kino Video's DVD sports a great transfer, including only the trailer, which is fine. It's criminal that this film was not nominated for an Academy Award (TM)for Best Foreign Film, it's absurd. Likely, this was the best-film of all of 2004!
Take-note: American film-chains are threatening to stop-showing ALL Hollywood PRODUCT soon if the industry decides on short film-to-DVD windows for release as "sell-through." If that occurs, we may see a wonderful rebirth of indie and World cinema! Especially for film-lovers in the USA, this could mean a rebirth of the old "grind-house" cinemas with their panopoly of genre and World cinema releases. Cross-your-fingers, we should be watching films like this all-the-time.
As part of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, Georges and his cell anticipate Bolshevik-terror, and a complete-surrender to nihilism. That is evident in cell-leader Georges most-of-all. While his compatriots have their own reasons, Georges appears to have no other reason for directing his terror-attacks than a desire to kill, to stir Russian-society towards...what?
Even Georges seems to be unsure why he does-what-he-does. That is not an uncommon feeling for terrorists, as the Weather Underground amply displayed. In-short, a cell-leader is responsible for harnessing all these different reasons these individuals have "come to the cause."
There are so many powerful moments in this film, that you really must watch it to appreciate the scope of this film. It's THAT good. Kino Video's DVD sports a great transfer, including only the trailer, which is fine. It's criminal that this film was not nominated for an Academy Award (TM)for Best Foreign Film, it's absurd. Likely, this was the best-film of all of 2004!
Take-note: American film-chains are threatening to stop-showing ALL Hollywood PRODUCT soon if the industry decides on short film-to-DVD windows for release as "sell-through." If that occurs, we may see a wonderful rebirth of indie and World cinema! Especially for film-lovers in the USA, this could mean a rebirth of the old "grind-house" cinemas with their panopoly of genre and World cinema releases. Cross-your-fingers, we should be watching films like this all-the-time.