Piter FM

This is a romantic comedy about two people getting to know each other because of a lost mobile phone.

The plot is not new at all, and is quite predictable. The two characters face troubles in their love lives, talk to each other on the phone, and guess what happens! What it lacks in plot, it makes up in other ways. The urban landscape of St Petersburg is presented in a very attractive way. the feel of the film is upbeat, and happy. It's like having a sugar coating on an old story, making an otherwise bland story more attractive. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it is a pleasant entertainment if you have nothing to do.

Masha is a radio DJ who works with Piter FM. She is about to get married. Maksim is an architect who is having to work as a handyman but has been offered a job as an architect in Germany. He is about to go to Germany. One day, as fate would have it, while crossing the road Masha drops her mobile phone and Maksim picks it up. With Masha and Maksim we take a trip into their funny and enchanting worlds. This movie makes you laugh and keeps you hooked until the very last minute, in an "Amelie"-like manner. This is Oksana Bychkova's first movie and make a note of this name. She is a director we must watch out for! Brilliant, Imaginative and Entertaining!

This movie falls into the category of great date movies: it's romantic and sweet enough for the women, and has enough humor and Russian bizarreness to sustain the men. Add to the mix a terrific soundtrack, tasteful cinematography, and an optimistic, life- and love-affirming plot - there's something for everyone.

More than just a story of young love, this is a valentine to St. Petersburg and its people. The city and its inhabitants are lovingly (if sometimes ironically) portrayed. While the male protagonist's dilemma - to leave or not to leave - is fairly typical for upwardly mobile Russians, with a fairly typical result (to leave, of course), the film tells us that there are plenty of reasons to stay and be happy with that choice. From beautiful buildings with centuries-old history to pretty girls in mini-skirts, there are many reasons to like St. Petersburg.

While by no means original (similar plot device of star-crossed lovers being connected in many ways and not realizing it until the fateful meeting has been explored by other movies, including Happenstance with Audrey Tautou), Piter FM is refreshing enough to stand out among the same old-same old of romantic comedies.

At last this film is on IMDb. A wonderful debut by a new name in Russian film directing - Oksana Bychkova. Romantic comedy Piter FM falls into a category of so-called "films for mood". The joy of living, the feeling of approaching love... and the beautiful city as one of the main "actors".

The plot is simple. Masha is a radio DJ living in Russian "northern capital" St-Petersburg. She is going to marry her old school mate. Wedding dresses, cars, flowers - that's her everyday trouble. Running in a hurry to meet her bride who would arrange another very important thing for the marriage, she loses a phone, and a young architect Maksim finds it. Maksim is about to leave for Germany in a few days, but he tries to give the phone back to its owner - several times arranging meetings but with no success...

First of all, the movie is beautifully shot. Piter (St-Petersburg) is a wonderful city with fantastic architecture. In the film, the city is bright, moving, a city with a smile - sometimes kind, sometimes sad or ironical. Don't try to analyze the film, you just have to feel it. It's like music, like an impressionistic picture - the main thing is to capture a short moment, to live for the moment and to enjoy.

After this film I finally made up my mind to go and see this wonderful city.

P.S. Andrey Krasko - RIP. One of his last roles, a very short one but really impressing.

This is a very light-hearted movie. The plot and characters are rather predictable, but it leaves a good impression, at least it did for me. For some reason, probably because of the camera work and the story, I had an impression that I was watching a Russian version of "Amelie". I think I enjoyed the beautiful St. Petersburg's scenery and minor characters (like Vladimir Mashkov playing a strange man in a one-minute episode) than the main story. Some small episodes are quite funny. For example, a policeman stops than main hero (Maxim) to check documents and asks among other things: "Firearms? Illegal drugs?" "No, thanks," Maxim replies. This movie shows a different Russia from what you may be used to. Good movie to watch with a date.