Die Ironie des Schicksals, oder Genieße Dein Bad!

I've been told that this film is shown every New Year's Eve in Russia, and there is no doubt why. It is exquisitely romantic, appropriately funny and symbolizes the best of Russia. It's sentimentally touches a heart string in everyone and its seeming lack of reality only makes it more realistic. With a fantastic soundtrack and some beautiful poetry, you truly have not seen a good film until you have seen this. I could watch it again and again and.....

It is New Year's Eve in Moscow and Zhenya is about to get married. To celebrate his upcoming nuptials and to ring in the new year, he and his friends get drunk at the local bathhouse. Calamity ensues after Zhenya accidentally flies to Leningrad, a city he cannot distinguish from his own in his intoxicated state. By chance, his address matches an apartment identical to his own, and his key fits in the door. There, fate introduces Zhenya to the owner of the apartment, Nadya, as well as her uptight fiancé Ippolit. Will love bloom in Nadya's standard Soviet apartment, or does fate have other plans in store for Zhenya?

Directed by Eldar Ryazanov and written alongside Emil Braginsky, 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' is a warmly entertaining romantic-comedy that also serves as a sharp satire on the soulless uniformity of the Soviet urban landscape. Much like Ryazanov's later 'Office Romance,' the film paints a stark depiction of Moscow and Leningrad during the so-called "Era of Stagnation", and like the latter film; mines the socio-economic and architectural maladies of the period for comedic gold.

Beginning with a humorous cartoon detailing the burgeoning homogenisation of the Soviet terrain, and continuing to satirize various aspects of 70's era Soviet life- from the furniture to the locks- Ryazanov's film is a criticism of drab architecture, identical apartments and cold cityscapes that people from any nation can identify with. Vladimir Nakhabtsev's naturalistic cinematography emphasises the sameness of the locales, which the production design and I. Fyodorov's set decoration only bolsters. Despite this satirical strength, though, the film is also- and perhaps primarily- a most unlikely and well-acted love story that should warm the cockles of even the iciest heart.

'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' finds Andrey Mayakov starring as Zhenya, alongside Barbara Brylska as Nadya and Yury Yakovlev as Ippolit. Mayakov delivers a delightfully impassioned performance, remaining charmingly convincing whether comically drunk or serenading the audience on the guitar. He and Brylska share a warm, seemingly genuine chemistry that makes watching them together a real treat.

Throughout the film, the Polish-born Brylska is terrific, remaining both beguiling and sympathetic. Voiced by Valentina Talyzina- who appears in the film herself as one of Nadya's friends- the character of Nadya has to deal with a strange situation to say the least, and Brylska keeps things from getting too farcical with her down-to-earth performance and easy charm. Whether singing the great Mikael Tariverdiev songs- through the voice of Alla Pugacheva- or attempting to juggle two suitors at the same time; she enthrals. For his part, the great Yury Yakovlev never sets a foot wrong in the role of Ippolit, bringing his uptight mannerisms to life perfectly, whilst remaining humorous and empathetic.

Regardless of one's agreement with Ryazanov's critique of the 70's era Soviet landscape as a soulless one, or one's belief in fate; 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' is a funny and thoroughly entertaining experience. Well-written, strongly acted and featuring striking visuals from Vladimir Nakhabtsev- as well as a stirring score from Mikael Tariverdiev- Eldar Ryazanov's 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' is one of the finest gems in Mosfilm's crown.

This is a great movie. If you've ever spent any time in Russia, you know that the premise is not too far-fetched, considering the post-war Soviet cookie-cutter construction techniques. I wish I could watch it every New Year.

Can anyone tell me if an English version--preferably subtitled, but I'd settle for dubbed--is available?

...we rent "S legkim parom!" and watch it. The film is on the long side, but it's perfect for New Year's Eve. I personally think this is a classic of Russian comedies. Very funny, and at the same time somewhat sad as well. The film has become legendary in Russia, so it might be a little hard for foreigners to understand, much like it's hard for people outside the US to understand all those Christmas films. It's great, though--every time I watch it, it just makes me think of the holidays and feel happy inside.

This movie is another great foreign film that would have escaped my attention except that a Russian friend had recommended it. It is a cult film in 1975 Soviet Russia centered around their big holiday, New Years Day. The acting is unusually good and the story plot is very believable. The movie is listed as a comedy and that gives away that the outcome is a happy one. How they get there is what makes this a great story. If you don't mind subtitles and listing to a foreign language this is a great movie. There is very limited violence which actually adds to the dilemma of the characters. There is no nudity or obscene language. I recommend this to anyone looking for a light comedy. Vincew9298@hotmail.com