Movie recommendation - 'Утомлённые солнцем' 1994
In the thread about the new Stalingrad movie, I mentioned this one and just wanted to post it here for those who might be interested and who might not have seen the other thread yet:
Allow me to recommend the Russian movie 'Утомлённые солнцем' (Burnt by the Sun - Nikita Mikhalkov 1994).
It takes place during the late thirties purges in Russia.
Its not an action packed shoot-em-up movie by a long shot (no pun intended), but its starkly beautiful filmed, well played and the movie oozes of the very characteristic melancholic Russian mentality and the traits, which makes some Russian movies a special experience to watch (no, Im not a re-incarnation of Roger Ebert - I just liked the movie).
Non-spoiler plot alert: Russia, 1936 - revolutionary hero Colonel Kotov is spending an idyllic summer in his dacha with his young wife and six-year-old daughter Nadia and other assorted family and friends. Things change dramatically with the unheralded arrival of Cousin Dmitri from Moscow, who charms the women and little Nadia with his games and pianistic bravura. But Kotov isn't fooled: this is the time of Stalin's repression, with telephone calls in the middle of the night spelling doom - and he knows that Dmitri isn't paying a social call.
Burnt by the Sun takes place over the course of one day.
Russian director and actor Nikita Mikhalkov (main character) is excellent both behind the camera when directing the movie and in the role of Colonel Kotov.
Oleg Menshikov is most excellent as well and perfect for the role of Mitya.
NB Disregard the sequel(s).
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"In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen men fight so hard." - SS Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm Bittrich - Arnhem
by Woolgar
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