Leto, un verano de amor y rock

Who would have guessed that the feel-good movie of the year so far would be a Russian rock musical, set in the 1980's and filmed in widescreen black and white? Kirill Serebrennikov's "Leto" works on a number of levels; as a picture of a still totalitarian Russia coming to terms with influences from the West, as a good old-fashioned musical and as a picture of relationships under pressure and the fact that it looks so damned beautiful, (should all movies be in black and white?), is just the icing on the cake. Throw in some awesome tunes from the period and what's not to love. I can even imagine a shirtless Putin head-banging to this just to keep his street-cred intact. The young cast, too, are excellent; this is a first-rate ensemble piece in which even the smallest part is perfectly played. Some of the musical numbers might remind you of the Elton John biopic "Rocketman" but this knocks that out of the ballpark. Don't miss it.

This movie has a soul. One could write about Soviet (harsh) realities, but I won't. I was surprised, when an elderly pair (looked like 70+) arrived to watch the film - even some of 50+ Russian folks would criticize what is shown (but I hope they have their right not to watch it). For a younger people, this will be a good example to have a glimpse on Soviet life of 1980s. Takes a very talented director to make the actors act like this. I've got several recalls of "Assa" (one of the best movies of late 1980s), but this has got its own charms. So, I definitely recommend this one to watch. At least, for the memory of those, whom we loved.

Leto is one of these rare movies that know how to talk to your heart, to open it up and awaken all the dreams you ever thought of. Leto is a little jewel, the one in which resides such powerful, impacting strength but also a beauty that you can only admire.

The movie puts us in the underground rock scene of late Soviet Union. It sets itself in a climate where change is asked but also felt, the times of the Perestroika. But yet control over culture is really strong. The way youth wants to express itself, by the music they listen to and make (music inspired in many occidental rock groups) is only limited to abandoned warehouses where access is restricted, under control of the regime's police. This creative climate is always contained, but never feels oppressive for the viewer nor for the characters that actually act with great liberty. And this is particularly thanks to Serebrennikov's directing. He uses all cinema's artifices, pushes the limits of staging to create his own universe. The black and white creates an atmosphere of such simplicity, yet full of possibilities. The adopted view expresses how all the characters and all the legends that forged this period were great dreamers at core. They had dreams, they dream all along, they tried to transmit their dreams in the frame that was imposed to them. They created a new vision, a new world. The power of youth for change is one of the great motors of this movie. But the real beauty is that the movie never falls in a pamphletarian tone, it always stays with this optimist vision that awakens the dreamer in each one of us, and encourages everyone to pursue their dreams. Although it's dealing with past, Serebrennikov's tale is still really relevant in our time, where we all absolutely need to dream and need to fulfill our dreams to escape this anxiogenous climate that reigns in our society. The movie warms your heart, gives you power and energy for change -whatever type of change it is- and that's where resides all the greatness of the movie; it is a source of light that will reheat your heart, and give you hope.

That's why I am still scandalized that it didn't win a single prize in Cannes when it is one of the movies that was really worth winning a distinction. It would of been the occasion of giving a great impulse to this creative, crazy and ambitious cinema, that throws traditional codes away and finally dares to brake rules ! It would of been the occasion to recognize the talent and vision of Serebrennikov that is, we all know, put at risk by elements that he cannot control.

So go, run to watch this hymn to youth, revolution, change, beauty and dream !

I've not posted for a while, life taking a huge dip lately and i've been busy with other stuff. No idea what to start with, i had been listening to bands from the Eastern bloc. Then switched to Thrash metal and listened to Shah's Beware album (1989) and E. S. T. Electro Shock Therapy (1989). I was going back and forth and played classic rock bands from the Soviet. I remembered Serebrennikov's movie but was not able to recollect the name. I looked it up and it put me in a good zone after all the music, I watched it twice!

The movie is a portrait of Leningrad's underground music scene of the early 1980s - shot in moody monochrome, loosely based on Kino frontman Viktor Tsoi ( the Marc Bolan of Russia back in those days) with an interesting story of keeping the flame alive in the declining scene (who would not like to know what was being a rock star in the Soviet Union in the 80's ?) It is beautifully shot, a perfect ode to the youth and rock in Soviet Russia, which also contains the immortal line: "This is Natasha, she really loves tomatoes". Kirill Serebrennikov has put his sweat, blood and tears and completed the project while he was under house arrest and it triggered backlash from the public when he was denied permission to attend the cremation of his mother by the court.

I would definitely say that I'm a big fan of Serebrennikov films and his vision for Leto is so passionate and poetic that you feel you're part of the era amidst the turmoil and what it really felt like listening to rock music in the 80s featuring music by T-Rex, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Bowie, Blondie & more. There are filmmakers who have contributed to this genre, but Serebrennikov is one of the handful to have succeeded in this initiative of linking music to political protest.

So, as I'm a dumb plebe, I don't check at TV and YouTube, I missed this awesome picture that was released 2 months ago, and I've only recently got a glimpse of the bomb. Firstly, I want to tell you, that this picture is included in my specialty top 5 movies of the year, and here is a reason. Words do not convey how much is it full of wonderful camerawork moves, musical accompaniment and acting, the general atmosphere and her cultural significance. It is important to understand the point that this film is positioned as a requiem for Victor Tsoy and Mike Naumenko, but, for me, this picture is better perceived as artistic, because of its historical fidelity. Not to make spoilers, let me just say that it's a cool pseudo documentary about the punk / avant-garde get-together of the capital of all Russian-speaking cherry-pickings, namely "Leningrad Rock Club" and its beginnings. The other one is worth seeing, isn't it? Separately, I want to note the soundtrack, which took first place in Cannes, which is not surprising. How the hell can one not win with the overdose of such monsters as Bowie, Lou Reed, Blondie, T-Rex, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and many more. Which is only worth the presence in the movie Shortparis, from which I, as always, caught a real aesthetic orgasm. Inserts with musicals, b/w and enduring the spirit of that era in the complex fascinating viewing experience. To sumbit I can only say, watch online, go to the cinema, but do not miss this movie with your interested eyes.