Ein gewöhnliches Wunder

The only reason that I'm ranking it 9 instead of 10 is that fact that it's... not actually a movie.

It's based on a theatre play, directed by a theatre director, and it shows in everything: the dialogue, the set, the scenes, the costumes, the actors often talking and looking directly at the audience... However, if you're willing to disregard that little detail and instead watch it as a recorded theatre play, it's an absolutely breathtaking experience.

The movie is based on the play of the same name by Evgenyi Shvartz, one of the most significant Russian The story is painfully simple: two young people fall in love, even though they cannot be together. The literal magic and the magic of being human twist together to make a beautiful plot about love out of this world. People born in the Soviet Union know the iconic songs and quotes from this movie by heart. The cast is stellar, although a few of them are first and foremost theatre actors, which, again, shows.

The film An Ordinary Miracle IS a miracle, an extraordinary miracle, born in the harmonious union of cinema and theater. It mixes magically the elements of elegant Comedy Del Arte, not just one but three beautiful romances, hilarious and unforgettable characters, humor, satire, the dialogs and quotes that have become the part of every day conversations in all Post Soviet Russian speaking countries, and colorful musical fairy tale. It was made 33 years ago, but it is as fabulous and modern as ever, and it does not age at all. Miracles never do. No matter how many years have passed, it will always be difficult to be a real man, and always will be tedious to prove that you are worthy of your fame. And while there is humanity, "Glory to brave who dare to love, knowing that this will come to an end. Thank to madmen who live, as if they were immortal."

I saw this miracle of fantasy, music, romance, and comedy dozens of times and thought that I knew it almost by heart. But earlier today, while re-watching it after many years for the first time, I realized clearly that that the entire film, all this glorious extravaganza is the anthem to love and passion of a creator to the process of creation, to fantasy, dreams, the flights of imagination that give birth to miracles and give us the joy to witness and admire them. The film belongs to two wizards, the miracle-workers. One, in the amazing performance by Oleg Yankovki, is the screen wizard whose love for his wife and imagination brought to live the story and the characters and turned their lives upside down, sending them to the roads they never dreamed of going. He held the fate of all characters, but gave them the choices that would change them forever. The other wizard is the Master behind the scenes, Marc Zakharov, whose talent, creativity, and vision made the miracle possible. Everything in it is magical: the score and songs by G. Gladkov are so unique and memorable,they deserve separate and long conversation, as well as festive Masquerade/carnival atmosphere, bitter-sweet love stories (not one but three), and the amazing performance by all actors without exception. The best the film could be defined by the very first line of the main song, the Wizard's song: "absurd, ridiculous, foolish, crazy, magical".

Phantasmagoria. The second film adaptation of the play of the same name by the famous Soviet playwright and writer Yevgeny Lvovich Schwartz, since the first was released already in the sixty-fourth year. I have not read the play itself, I have not watched the first film adaptation, so I will evaluate this film adaptation as an independent work. I first looked at this masterpiece of Mark Zakharov in 1915, when I began to collect a collection of Soviet classics, and then it made a favorable impression on me, since then I have revised it several times - and every time I got pleasure again. And here's my brief opinion - A wonderful and touching love story. I will say right away that I did not find any flaws in the picture, although I tried, therefore I intend to dwell on the expressive merits of this brilliant phantasmagoria of Mark Anatolyevich Zakharov. So, here they are: 1. Romantic story - the picture tells about the love between a young man named Bear and a beautiful princess, whose connection into a single whole is prevented by only one thing - the spell that the Wizard put on him - if he kisses the princess, he will again become a bear, which becomes the beginning of a series phantasmagoric situations, brilliant dialogues, a twisted story and a great ending. Here you and the throwing of the Wizard with his inventions and twists of history, irony over the monarchy, ridicule of vicious human qualities, but first of all, this story is about pure love, full of mental anguish and happy moments. And the monologue of the Wizard, performed by the magnificent Oleg Yankovsky, makes you each time amazed at the simplicity of everyday, but such important things, and re-perceive them as a gift from higher powers. Well, the romantic line itself turned out exactly as it should - sincere, emotional, replete with sharp turns, even a little predictable, but very memorable, and the actors themselves did their best! 2. The mood of the picture is melancholic, enthusiastic, philosophical, romantic. It includes all of this, mixing into a unique tone that I have not met anywhere else (there is something similar in "The Same Munchausen", but there is a different mood and a different message). This is precisely the phantasmagoria - the author's vision, where everything is literally mixed, but this does not cause dissonance or a feeling of slight discomfort in the viewer. 3. Music - not the last role in shaping the mood of the picture is played by music, for which Gennady Gladkov was responsible. And the songs were a success, although I don't like all of them. 4. Wonderful actors - real mastodons of Soviet cinema play here, who, thanks to their acting, pull them out of the meager scenery. Here you have Andrei Mironov as a charming scoundrel, Yevgeny Leonov as a tyrant and tyrant king, Ekaterina Vasilyeva as the first royal lama, Yuri Solomin as Emil, Vladimir Dolinsky as an executioner, Ervand Arzumanyan as a close-minded and charming first minister, and so on. ... Everyone is nice to look at. Everyone is interesting to watch. Each of them is not a "cardboard box", but a full-fledged character, endowed with his own character. A little about the main characters: 1. The Master (Magician) performed by Oleg Yankovsky is the main storyteller and storyteller who is responsible for all the vaudeville going on. A decent inventor, convinced that he is always right until he becomes a witness to something else, which fundamentally convinced him of the falsity of his own infallibility. Well, I already spoke about the monologue. Oleg Ivanovich pleased me again with his acting. Bravo! 2. The mistress, performed by Irina Kupchenko, is the Wizard's faithful wife, a muse, without whom he could not have composed even a third of his works. An example of femininity, gallantry, kindness and spirituality. And their relationship with the Wizard just needs to be seen. Graceful and beautiful Irina Petrovna pleased with her talent. Bravo! 3. The bear performed by Alexander Abdulov and the Princess performed by Evgenia Simonova - our couple in love, who experiences all the difficulties and joys of love. There is a "spark" between characters and actors. Great couple! Bravo! Despite the fact that I love this work of Mark Anatolyevich, my heart prefers his own painting "That same Munchausen", which is closer to me in spirit. As a result, we have Mark Zakharov's masterpiece phantasmagoria about the gateways of love, with an excellent story, unique atmosphere, great music and songs, and ingenious acting works.

Mark Zakharov has done a number of interesting, allegoric films ('To Kill a Dragon', for one), often adapting plays of Yevgeni Shvarts. Yet 'An Oridnary Miracle' is much more than just one in a bunch.

What we have here is a tale coming to life, an allegory in its full sense. The plot is centered around the Wizard, played superbly by Oleg Yankovsky, and his wife (another fantastic performance by Irina Kupchenko). The Wizard utters words, and we see them come to life - literally. He is dictating every move of this story, setting the pace and force of action. Creating a solid world by imagination, a world that stumbles upon his tired wife and wouldn't leave until set right.

The center of this imaginary world is a love story, a fairy tale of a bear turned into a man who has to be kissed by a princess to return to his true form. Zakharov handles this in a beautiful way. The love story is very romantic, yet never too sweet, accompanied with superb supporting characters of the King (Yevgeni Leonov) and his Minister Administrator (Andrei Mironov), the very stars of the Soviet Russian cinema.

Everything is very theatrical in this movie. Anotther commenter here mentioned it's due to Zakharov's occupation as a theatre director. Yet it seems there's more to it, since other pictures of his hold less of this stage atmosphere. Having seen this movie numerous times, i like to think this 'theatricity' as, for one, an homage to Shvarts' plays, and also as yet another allegory of life and imagination, when everyone of us can be creators of many things. Creating our own life, which is nothing but an (un)ordinary miracle.

The whole movie, i think, comes to a simple truth, articulated in many masterpieces (it would fit to remember Tarkovsky here): it is difficult to be a creator. This gift comes with its own rules, sometimes far beyond control. Yet by allowing it to come, we can produce small, ordinary miracles. To quote the theme song of the movie, 'awkwardly, funnily, illogically, mindlessly - miraculously'.

Based on a play by Yevgeniy Shwartz, one of the best Russian playwrights of the 20th century, made by one of the best directors of the Soviet epoch with an unprecedented all-stars cast, this movie has instantly become a classic of Russian cinema and theatre alike. Critics may point out various flaws in it, still it is indispensable for anyone who is out to understand Russian culture a bit more, or just for anyone, I might add.