Stilyagi

A wonderful movie! Not just entertainment, but also a deep philosophical meaning!

It was quite entertaining until the director decided to convince me that any husband should be happy about his cheating wife )) Especially if she brings home somebody else's baby )) Seriously.

The picture is stylish and colorful. Nevertheless, it will be better understood and perceived by Russian people, by those who grew in the Soviet Union as an adolescence and who knows what's it's like to constantly be under the pressure of the system. By wearing bright clothes and make-up, by dancing to the forbidden music, these guys resist "greyness" and boredom of the time. They try to change not only themselves , but also the milieu which surrounds them and every day and every night controls their private lives. Music is great, but again mostly it's Russian, and only those who knows it, will get this "nostalgic" feeling while watching the movie.

HIPSTERS or STILYAGI is simply a sensational new century musical. I want to rave about it because I had such a great time watching it. I sincerely hope it gets a wide release in the West because it manages to be both political and effervescent and spectacular to watch. It is everything I wished a 2009 musical - and from Russia - to be and I was not disappointed. STILYAGI is a pop soda blend of these other musicals: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE with HAIRSPRAY with some CRY BABY and MOULIN ROUGE. It is everything the terrible botched IDLEWILD tried to be. STILYAGI means HIPSTERS in English and this dazzling funny and terrifically engaging 50s style dance musical is running across Australia in the 2009 Russian Film Festival. The casting is ideal and the four main leads....especially the 19 year old teen who plays Mels is wonderful.... he looks a lot like Matthew Modine. One early musical number sung by Mel's dad as he slowly wanders through their community apartment hallways (with his accordion) sets the tone for some sly communist life satire and very funny location jokes... and some hints at the 1955 political climate.

The girl from LILYA FOREVER is the gorgeous taffeta clad tease Polly and someone's future wife. This film is also reminiscent of the 1980s Disney musical SWING KIDS as it deals with the political breakout statement of teens rebelling against a dark authority who deem their music to be counter productive. STILYAGI is a huge and dynamic musical production, superbly designed and filmed with a sensation soundtrack of Russian pop tunes and some written for the film. The premise and outcome is unbelievable given the 1955 setting but it does allow some latitude as a 'what if' scenario. What if kids did rebel in 1955 Russia and adopted Rockabilly outfits and skiffle music? Run to see this film if it comes your way. If you have been wondering where all the Russian musicals are... STILYAGI will answer your question with a swing kids beat. The astonishing finale in the town square is a cast-of -thousands emotional sensation of glorious happiness! Overall the film takes a loving humorous tone to every dilemma...especially the hilarious outcome of someone's very unusual baby. STILYAGI deserves the Oscar in 2010 for best foreign film AND best musical if an award for that exists. You will be as delighted as I am, and I hope you get to see it. What a major cinematic surprise! Yippee! If you are a fan of the 1986 Brit musical ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS or even just admire its setting style and tone, then here is the Russian equivalent. Maybe even very reminiscent of Cliff Richard's 1959 dazzler ESPRESSO BONGO. This new film STILYAGI is the hipster update. Yes, it is as good as all the films above. Combined!

While on a recent vacation to the Ukraine, I had a chance to see this movie. Though I speak very little Russian, I was able to follow the story quite easily. It is an excellent film about Jazz sub culture in former Soviet Russia. It was visually dynamic and very well filmed. The songs are fantastic and catchy!! I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to it being released on video in the United States. The characters are wonderfully played. The lady I saw the film with told me that it "shined a big smile on America." I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in Russian movies, musicals or the former Soviet Union.