An interesting Russian film to show to student audience

[Michael Denner]

Hey, Mila!

I agree with many of the recommendations here, tho personally I did not
care for Piter FM, it is VERY accessible to Americans... it's just not a
Russian film. Russian Ark is pretentious but wonderful. Vozvrashchenie
is precisely as good as they say. 

But my pick for this particular need would be Starukhi (2003)
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399437/], an overlooked gem. (It hardly
got any play in Russia, and when you watch it, you'll understand
immediately why Putin's Russia might dislike it. It's readily available
here on a good quality DVD with subtitles.)

It's FASCINATING and charming and redolent of the other Russia (the
non-Piter-FM Russia). My students always love it. One drawback -- the
language is really remarkably foul (good grief! My ears burned!).
However, the English subtitles bowdlerize it sufficiently... 

The directing is superb. The landscape breathtaking. The writing smart
and funny. The actors are all (with one exception) "real people" --
septuagenarian babushki. 

The subtle and intelligent commentary on race and the future of Russia
will surely be of interest to your audience. 

~mad
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
   Dr. Michael A. Denner
   Editor, Tolstoy Studies Journal
   Director, University Honors Program

   
   Contact Information:
      Russian Studies Program
      Stetson University
      Campus Box 8361
      DeLand, FL 32720-3756
      386.822.7381 (department)
      386.822.7265 (direct line)
      386.822.7380 (fax)

      www.stetson.edu/~mdenner


-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at BAMA.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Miluse Saskova-Pierce
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:31 PM
To: SEELANGS at BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] An interesting Russian film to show to student
audience

Dear Seelangsters, 

I am looking for an interesting and not too boring Russian film to show
to 
university and also upper high school audiences.  Needs to be recent, 
interesting and artistic and not too naked.  And also available for 
purchase in the US on DVD, with English version or subtitles. 

Do you have any advise?  Thank you. 

Mila

Dr. Mila Saskova-Pierce
Other Languages Section Head
Department of Modern Languages
1133 Oldfather Hall
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
NE 68588-0315

e-mail:  msaskova-pierce1 at unl.edu

Tel:  (402) 472 1336
Fax: (402) 472 0327

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