Firebird

I'm an Eastern European queer born in Socialist times, so the story isn't exactly new to me. Almost all of us have usually far grimmer tales to tell, like asking a guy for a light in Opera Park and suddenly finding oneself in a basement pressed for names of fellow queers by a phone book slammed on the fingers. So I'm a bit put off by how tame this all is, a little bit of menace amidst extremely careless behavior - we were way more ingenious back then.

But it's wonderfully photographed for sure and Prior and Zagorodny are insanely hot - their love scenes look like they were choreographed by Matthew Bourne. To top it off, Zagorodny bears a remarkable resemblance to Tom Cruise, which is definitely not coincidental. So this is the film for all the gays fantasizing after watching Top Gun - prior to this one the gayest air force movie ever, even though they hid the subtext well. And it's perhaps an elegant jab at an actor who does action movies at 60 but still hasn't had his Jodie Foster moment.

Obvious, it is a beautiful film. For landscapes, good intentions around a real case as manifesto, for the moral conflicts, shadow of fear and the good remind of Stravinski creation. But it remains one ad usum Delphini film. Sure, the memories about Brokeback Mountain and sparkles of Doctor Zhivago are useful but as a sort of support. I just love the work of Tom Prior and Oleg Zagorodnii , I appreciate, in high measure, the performance of Diana Pozharskaya but something seems ignored or missed or to easy used. The cause, maybe, the film is proposed to a Western public. And I admitt, I do not know the book inspiring the movie. But, not ignoring its beauty, I feel it deserves be better. More than beautiful, soft bitter, adapted to a large public taste, using silly dialogues because it is just hard to accept the naivety of the two men and the way to escape to the eye of officials. But, I reppeate, it is just a beautiful film. Not perfect, because, behind the sparks of gestures, intense sad love story, part of army and crumbs of Soviet life style, are too many holes and large unrealism. It seems too...didactic. Naif, fake. Sure, my expectations about it were more than high. But the result is only decent for few mistakes who are good saboters of a charming story remaining promissing sketch. Sure, handsome actors and not bad script. But , maybe as result to be an Eastern European, the feeling about something is missing remains. So, decent, with few scenes just lovely.

If you've seen Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain you won't feel very compelled to see this, but you should. The main premise is quite similar: two lovers in an extremely homophobic environment form a bubble where their love can thrive through stealing time from their own ordinary obligtions to keep their love alive. The context is slightly different, since we're dealing with a Cold-War airforce in Russia where homosexuality is punishable by prison. The two male leads are conving and attractive, with erotic scenes on the right side of tasteful. As usual, epilogues in these sorts of stories tend to be predictable, but as with everything else, it's the road that matters, not the goal. Also, the fact that it's based on a true story lends it some more weight to keep it from turning into an amalgam of Titanic and Brokeback Mountain.

This is a lovestory you need to see! The forbitten story of two souls so deeply in love just makes you stop and hope, that nobody can never catch them in act. The storyline just makes you stop a heartbeat and fall into their challenges and dreams.

Actors were really well chosen and ofcourse good to watch due do absolutely stunning appearances. The audenticity of Soviet Era was well played with all the machinery, buildings, outfits and hairstyles. Costume makers have brilliantly served the styles of this strict and conservative era.

And ofcourse bonus points for such a important message to share with the world!

Loved it!

An outstanding experience in cinema. Firebird is a piece of history from USSR Cold War worth its stunning images in gold!. This movie is so filled with passion and filled with amazing performances you can't help but to watch in aw. Highly recommended! I saw this at Outfest and I must say of all the films I saw, this one was truly my personal favorite and the best picture I saw. When it is out, do not hesitate to seek it out!