Калина красная (1974) The Red Snoball Tree

Reblogged from time4russian:

Loved by many Russians, this beautiful and poetic film was shot by Vasili Shukshin and is based on his story with the same name.

Yegor Prokudin is released from prison. He is heading to a village where Lyuba lives, a peasant girl he knows only from her letters. He needs a break, some rest to decide what to do next.

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OK Friends, To enjoy this film, you have to understand a little about the culture and CLICK the CC on the right hand side at the bottom to turn on subtitles. BUT, THIS IS REALLY FUNNY. OK, I admit 90% of my 'Russian' Friends live in the USA .... But, this film has such a feel of what it must have been like in the 1970's USSR to it, In fact, I think I have seen the same buses used in this film. ;) YOU MUST watch it. OK, you don't have to. But, if you don't .... I cannot think of an appropriate threat, because I am too sick. That is why I only watched the first few minutes. OOppps. I am SICK! American food WILL kill you. OK, back to the movie. I will give a review of it later (I have not seen it yet). But, the basic story is simple, the lead character gets out of jail, he goes to his old life, and he gets chased away by the police. And everyone else he knew. Accept for his brother. So, he goes to the only place left for him. He goes to this wilderness village, OK, they do have a tea room and communal hot baths. And there he meets his pen-pal, love interest. OK, simple enough. However, the author, director (and lead character) does a great job of increasing TENSION in the plot. Imagine that? A plot without drugs, sex, and rock and roll? And a little important background: His love interest in the movie was his wife in real life. And he died the year after finishing his final film .... It is a really good look at Russia in the 1970's. I think. What do you think? Wayne