Ironiya sudby, ili S legkim parom!

Okay, so I'm in love with Andrey Mjagkov, but all that aside, you've simply gotta love this movie. It's funny, it makes you feel good. Somewhat far-fetched plot (I won't give it away, just go watch it), but the acting is great, the directing is great, the music is great, the singing is great. Unlike most Russian movies it does not leave you with a sense of impending doom and in a state of utter depression. It will leave you with a whole new view of Russian film and Russian life (that's if you're not Russian and don't already have a very unique view). Watch it! Trust me!

This film has celebrated its 30th anniversary on this 2006 New Year Eve, and there was a special programme about the creation of the film, actors etc. Apparently, the whole country (then USSR) watched it when it was first shown in 1976, and they wanted to see if the rating would be the same 30 years later. I have to say, I have been watching this film religiously since early teens every New Year and when I moved to live in the UK, the video recording of "Ironiya" was one of the essential items I brought with me. It's one of those films that I can watch over and over again, instant mood lifter, and I just can't imagine my New Year day / eve without it, and a bottle of "Soviet" champagne, and Russian salad, and the proverbial Jellied fish that Ippolit referred to as "muck" (I think the closest translation I can think of). On my way back from Moscow to London in Janaury, I tried to purchase a DVD copy in the airport but was told by the assistant that they are permanently sold out!!!

It is New Year's Eve in Moscow and Zhenya is about to get married. To celebrate his upcoming nuptials and to ring in the new year, he and his friends get drunk at the local bathhouse. Calamity ensues after Zhenya accidentally flies to Leningrad, a city he cannot distinguish from his own in his intoxicated state. By chance, his address matches an apartment identical to his own, and his key fits in the door. There, fate introduces Zhenya to the owner of the apartment, Nadya, as well as her uptight fiancé Ippolit. Will love bloom in Nadya's standard Soviet apartment, or does fate have other plans in store for Zhenya?

Directed by Eldar Ryazanov and written alongside Emil Braginsky, 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' is a warmly entertaining romantic-comedy that also serves as a sharp satire on the soulless uniformity of the Soviet urban landscape. Much like Ryazanov's later 'Office Romance,' the film paints a stark depiction of Moscow and Leningrad during the so-called "Era of Stagnation", and like the latter film; mines the socio-economic and architectural maladies of the period for comedic gold.

Beginning with a humorous cartoon detailing the burgeoning homogenisation of the Soviet terrain, and continuing to satirize various aspects of 70's era Soviet life- from the furniture to the locks- Ryazanov's film is a criticism of drab architecture, identical apartments and cold cityscapes that people from any nation can identify with. Vladimir Nakhabtsev's naturalistic cinematography emphasises the sameness of the locales, which the production design and I. Fyodorov's set decoration only bolsters. Despite this satirical strength, though, the film is also- and perhaps primarily- a most unlikely and well-acted love story that should warm the cockles of even the iciest heart.

'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' finds Andrey Mayakov starring as Zhenya, alongside Barbara Brylska as Nadya and Yury Yakovlev as Ippolit. Mayakov delivers a delightfully impassioned performance, remaining charmingly convincing whether comically drunk or serenading the audience on the guitar. He and Brylska share a warm, seemingly genuine chemistry that makes watching them together a real treat.

Throughout the film, the Polish-born Brylska is terrific, remaining both beguiling and sympathetic. Voiced by Valentina Talyzina- who appears in the film herself as one of Nadya's friends- the character of Nadya has to deal with a strange situation to say the least, and Brylska keeps things from getting too farcical with her down-to-earth performance and easy charm. Whether singing the great Mikael Tariverdiev songs- through the voice of Alla Pugacheva- or attempting to juggle two suitors at the same time; she enthrals. For his part, the great Yury Yakovlev never sets a foot wrong in the role of Ippolit, bringing his uptight mannerisms to life perfectly, whilst remaining humorous and empathetic.

Regardless of one's agreement with Ryazanov's critique of the 70's era Soviet landscape as a soulless one, or one's belief in fate; 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' is a funny and thoroughly entertaining experience. Well-written, strongly acted and featuring striking visuals from Vladimir Nakhabtsev- as well as a stirring score from Mikael Tariverdiev- Eldar Ryazanov's 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!' is one of the finest gems in Mosfilm's crown.

Let me sort out what in this film is Soviet, what is Russian, and what is universal.

Soviet is the background, including the cartoon which precedes the appearance of humans: a man with a tube kills any architect originality, even so innocent as balconies. As a consequence, the same buildings are put up in Artica as well in a southern desert before surprised camels. The Soviet reality is the basis of the plot with identical buildings in different cities. Also the New Year tree rather that the Christmas tree is Soviet. However, as the story unfolds, the Soviet reality recedes into little visible background. An exception is a line in one of the songs: if you do not have a dog, your neighbor cannot poison your dog.

Russian are the beautiful poems which are made into songs. There are also some views of Leningrad, but actually only a few, with the St. Isaac Basilica shown several times from different sides.

The cast and the technical crew are largely Russian, but not only. Obviously Armenian, Georgian and Jewish names are listed. The actress playing Nadya has been imported from Central Europe; Barbara Brylska is a Polish actress, well known also from a number of other movies made in Poland as well as in other countries.

The appeal of the film is truly universal ! This is the reason why viewers from countries so disparate as Latvia, Ukraine and China like this film so much (not to mention Texans). The love-jealousy quadrangle, two mothers, friends of Zhenya and colleagues of Nadya could have lived in many countries around the world. Even the story of the same address could have happened for instance in Germany where practically every city and town has Bahnhofstrasse and Poststrasse.

Finally, the atmosphere of this film is unique - a word which very rarely can be used discussing films. We have seen other films directed by Eldar Ryazanov, all of them good, but none comparable to this one. All that takes place in the film is plausible, it could have happened in reality. At the same time, there is the feeling of poetic, unreal and sublime. These two basically opposed reactions to the film coexist somehow in the viewer; this simply does not happen in movies, films directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski excepted. Irony of the Fate is a truly wonderful film, alive 30 years after being created; it will enchant future generations as well.

I've been told that this film is shown every New Year's Eve in Russia, and there is no doubt why. It is exquisitely romantic, appropriately funny and symbolizes the best of Russia. It's sentimentally touches a heart string in everyone and its seeming lack of reality only makes it more realistic. With a fantastic soundtrack and some beautiful poetry, you truly have not seen a good film until you have seen this. I could watch it again and again and.....