Beregis avtomobilya

Russian film "Watch Out for the Automobile" is about the role of cars in people's lives. It was made at a time when it was not possible for everybody to afford cars. This is one reason why dishonest people were able to buy cars without great difficulty. It is in such an unethical climate that this film's hero decides to steal cars which acquired through illegal money. Director Eldar Ryazanov has directed his film in such a manner that viewers get the feeling that there is nothing extraordinary about this car thief and the cars stolen by him. This effect is created by portraying the hero as an ordinary man who has nothing to do with crime. The film begins with tightly constructed scenes of a heavily guarded car being stolen.This leads viewers to ask what would really happen when the thief is not recognized by other people ? On his part,the car thief is able to fulfill his wishes as he wants to make a wise use of money for poor people. Apart from drama about incidents of car theft,genuine comedy can also be found in form of comical situations witnessed during a Shakespearean play's rehearsal by the hero and his nemesis.Lastly,this film's moral message is conveyed immediately after a truly mind boggling car chase sequence.

"Beware of the Car" aka "Uncommon Thief" or "Watch Out for the Automobile" is the comedy directed by one of the most famous and talented Soviet directors Edgar Ryazanov in 1966. Eldar Ryazanov, the master of the comedies, one of the most beloved Soviet and Russian directors, had directed many masterpieces, and I am not afraid to say so. I've seen his films when they were first released, and I've seen them many times since and they just don't get old or outdated. They are brilliant, they are sparkling, they are not slapstick laugh-out-loudly comedies, they are rather lyrical delicate dramedies and they are fabulous. The writing is always first class. Ryazanov often wrote the screenplays for his movies, and his best ones were the result of his cooperation with Emil Braginskiy - just like in "Beregis' avtomobilya". One of the most talented Russian film composers, Andrei Petrov who had written music scores for over 80 films and worked with Georgi Daneliya, George Cukor, Daniil Khrabrovitsky, Leonid Menaker, and Aleksei German among many others, had written his most beautiful melodious and recognizable scores and songs for Edgar Ryazanov. If I start talking about the actors who played in Ryazanov's B/W early comedy, "Beregis' Avtomobilya", someone would have to stop me. Who is who of the Soviet big screen and drama stage took the roles, even the small cameos in his funny and sad comedy/mystery/satire/crime/romance and every actor/actress is perfect.

The timid, shy, modest and sweet insurance agent, the loving son and diligent employee of an insurance company, the actor of amateur theater (where his next role will be a coveted Hamlet in Shakespeare's tragedy) Jury Detochkin (the genius Innokenty Smoktunovsky. If you don't believe me, watch any of his movies, just the one. "Hamlet" aka "Gamlet",1964 would be more than enough to convince you) has a hidden site nobody is aware of. He is an irreconcilable fighter for justice who proves to be a clever, creative and mysterious car thief that steals the personal automobiles from those whom he considers as dishonest people. He sells the cars, and donated the money to his favorite charity, the children's homes. Detochkin never takes any money for himself and acts like a modern Robin Hood. However, for the justice represented by his good friend, the actor of the same theater, and in the real life - police inspector Podberezovikov (Oleg Efremov), this Robin Hood is nothing but the dangerous, smart, inventive and imperceptible criminal who has to be stopped, brought to justice, and put to jail.

In this film Detochkin (Smoktunovsky) plays Hamlet in amateur performance. It is remarkable, that Innokenty Smoktunovsky by then had already played brilliantly Hamlet in the film directed by Grigoriy Kozintzev in 1964 that was based on the translation by Boris Pasternak with the music written by Dmitriy Shostakovich. Smoktunovsky's Hamlet is considered one of the best interpretations of the tragic Prince ever made.

Just a great movie portraying the genres most often used in movies at that time: love, light humour. Smoktynovsky is perhaps not the ideal choice for the role (Ryzanov originally wanted Nikylin for this role, but the latter was currently in the also great comedy - Diamond Arm), yet he is very good. There are many funny quotes in this film, better understood if you understand Russian, a ton of small funny moments which just make you grin. The cast gives an outstanding performance. Back to Smoktynovsky again, I'll describe the movie for you a bit. He is an honest insurance agent who steals and sells cars from unfairly rich people, and gives the money to foster homes. His best friend is a detective trying to find the thief. After he learns the shocking truth, he obviously does not want Detochkin (Smoktynocsky's hero) to be punished severely.

The absence of reviews here prompts me to say a few words. I saw this in a cinema in Moscow in 1966 [despite date above], a popular film there at the time. I couldn't follow all the dialogue at the time, but I recall being struck by the believability and humanity of the whole thing. Russian public were right on the side of the anti-hero, though he was no swashbuckler and the ending is dispassionate. This was still during the time of the Soviet thaw, and Moscow was heaving with American tourists. Life was better for Russians and things were looking up. The old gallant Soviet war heros had become less interesting, and the time was right for someone more complex, surfacing, perhaps, from the rich literary tradition. A perfect Geroi nasha vremeno - my theory anyway. I'd just like to see it again before giving it a rating!

"Beregis avtomobilya" in Russian means "look out for the car". It seems that the title actually implies that cars become sort of a metaphor for our lives. The protagonist Detochkin (his surname implies "child" in Russian) is an insurance agent who steals cars from thieves and gives the money to charity. But then there's a surprise.

What I mean about the title as a metaphor for our lives. Some people put all their money into their cars; they're complete losers, but at least they have cool cars. Moreover, it's often said that a person is his/her own worst enemy. In this sense, the danger to Detochkin posed by the average vehicle is nothing compared to what his own actions can do.

Anyway, this is a pretty funny movie, a look at the Soviet Union in the mid-'60s. We even get to hear an American song in one scene! I suspect that they had fun making the movie. Worth seeing.