Modern Russian Cinema Recommendations

[JustinW]

I recently watched the Ninth Company and The Newsmakers and am now interested to see more modern Russian films. Any recommendations welcome!

PLEASE note I said modern, so no Battleship Potempkins!

 

[spb_lady]

I'm not a big fan of contemporary russian movies, but I'd recommend these ones:

- "Garpastum" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488832/
- "Morfiy" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186366/
- "Brother" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118767/
- "the Return" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376968/
- "Tsar" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424431/
- "Shultes" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226318/

good luck with that. post your review in case you watch something on the list or on your own

 

[JustinW]

^

Thanks! Much appreciated.

 

[NorCal]

Nightwatch and Daywatch.

 

[spb_lady]

Originally Posted by NorCal

Nightwatch and Daywatch.

there's an english version? actually I'm a big fan of the books, so I wasn't impressed by the movie that much...

 

[Pinhas]

Brother 2- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238883/ 12- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488478/ Also check out these great mini-series's: The Penal Battalion- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425715/ Brigada- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337898/

 

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by spb_lady

there's an english version? actually I'm a big fan of the books, so I wasn't impressed by the movie that much...

There is an dubbed Version and it sucks donkey dick. I actually shut it off. I don't speak Russian but even with sub-titles it was so much better. The voices fit the characters.
I loved the fact that the whole movie was just so ******* cold and harsh and, well, Russian.

 

[Johnny Amiga]

Don't have much to add to spb_ladys list, except a mention that Morfiy was pretty amazing.

Also quite liked The Return.

EDIT: What the hell, how could I forget Aleksandr Sokurov? Haven't seen that many films by him, but ones I've seen have been consistently quite amazing. The standout being 2007's Alexandra, but Father and Son, Russian Ark and The Sun were also really good.

And really, Russian Ark deserves praise for taking a gimmick (the whole film is one steadicam shot) and then executing it perfectly. I don't think it's the first one-shot film made (I know Mike Figgis did Timecode few years before), but it's still the only one I've seen where it actually works. A wonderful film.

Def check out Sokurov.

 

[Grigory]

Kandagar is pretty good! It's based on a true story of Russian pilots kept hostages in Afghanistan in 1990-s
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1272018/

 

[Mr Herbert]

saw How i Spent last Summer last night at the outdoor cinema but i think its a year or two old

 

[robertorex]

+1 on Brother and Brother 2.

I know you said modern, but I'm going to say White Sun of the Desert anyway.

 

[kashmir]

there is a very unique movie called Russian Ark. One whole movie is a single continuous shot (digitally assisted, of course)

 

[rmnd]

Lilya 4-ever

Swedish director, takes place in Estonia, characters speak Russian

 

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by NorCal

There is an dubbed Version and it sucks donkey dick. I actually shut it off. I don't speak Russian but even with sub-titles it was so much better. The voices fit the characters.
I loved the fact that the whole movie was just so ******* cold and harsh and, well, Russian.

Yeah had some pretty cool effects too. Daywatch had a way bigger budget because it got picked up by Fox Searchlight. Pretty cool, if cheesy at times, plot.

 

[uhurit]

Originally Posted by robertorex

I know you said modern, but I'm going to say White Sun of the Desert anyway.


Everyone must watch this movie...a fascinating glimpse into the mystery of russian soul