La maison de fous

For some I can't stop thinking about this little gem of a movie, it has more heart and soul than most of an entire decade of mainstream films combined. Konchalovsky is an interesting director, certainly when you think at the wide range of his work (Runaway Train, Shy People). I was somewhat fascinated and semi-perplexed when I first saw this, but the more I tried to peg it down ("ok this is the Russian Cookoo's Nest--with some 'I Never Promised you a Rose Garden' mixed in") the less it became so. This is an original one of a kind film, highly underrated, highly overlooked, especially in this country. Which is too bad, the rest of the sleepwalking brainwashed masses can flock to see their "Bruce Almighty's or Matrix Reloaded's every week, I'm glad I'm aware of films like this.

Not actually a spoiler, just a hint of how the film starts actually...

*POSSIBLE SPOILER* It's a house of the mentally ill somewhere in a forest of Chechenia. Then there's war between Chechens and russians. Doctors go away only to get back a few days later. The mentally ill (well, most of them) can't understand what's happening and go on with their daily life, free of barriers, since no doctors are around. *END OF SPOILER*

I don't want to go on about what happens next. That's not the point anyway. This film has great photography/cinematography & technics. But there's so much more. It's full of deep understanding of human soul, lust for life, deep meanings delivered in simple ways, great accordion music, feelings, ingrowing sarcasm and thought provoking humour. This is not one more anti-war film. Actually we get to see very little 'war', and even this ain't no Saving private Ryan. And how wrong is to compare this film with any anti-war film except perhaps Apocalypse now!

One more thing. What's the thing with that reviewer who thought it was strange for a Russian filmmaker to make a "pro-Chechen", as he indicates, film? Hello? There are people who CAN think regardlessly the nation they were born? But what am I saying? You speak of up to what you can understand... I recommend this beautiful film to everyone!

What beautiful imagery capturing the essence of a cold dark night where the silence is suddenly broken by a view of a most enigmatic train - like a Christmas tree decked out in its finest. War as seen through the eyes of Janna, a beautiful woman who is madly in love. And we do mean madly! You see, Janna is a Chechen inmate at an isolated psychiatric hospital, where her only peace lies in her accordian and her dreams of being rescued by her imaginary fiance, Canadian superstar Bryan Adams at the controls of that train. What is that train? And who is that man with the apple? Is he God speaking to mankind? Is that train the Train of Redemption taking every child, man, and woman who has suffered and leaving behind others in a world full of all the things we detest?

Deceptive innocent entertainment from Konchalovsky (director and original scriptwriter). On the obvious take--a film on good humans with mental problems incarcerated in a mental asylum, run by an efficient doctor who is dedicated and intelligent. On the not-so-obvious side--it is based on true incidents in Chechnya (Russia) during the Second Chechen War of 1999-2000. For those unfamiliar with Chechnya, it is a constituent republic of Russia with a predominant Muslim population. Russians predominantly follow the Russian Orthodox Church. Konchalovsky has proven his Russian orthodox credentials in all his cinematic works.

In this film, the inmates of the asylum include patients of both faiths living in harmony. Outside the asylum, there is war (between the Muslim Chechens and the Christian Russians). Konchalovsky's script underscores the camaraderie between the warring factions when they fought side by side in Afghanistan saving each other. During the Chechen war soldiers of both sides recall that they were once friends.

When the asylum is bombed by the Russians, many of the inmates cross themselves out of fear of impending death--indicating the majority of the inmates are Christian. Ahmed, a Muslim Chechen and a pacifist incarcerates himself with this motley group of inmates as he finds safety and friendship among the "crazies" who accept him as one of their own.

The participation of rock singer Bryan Adams as an actor and singer in the film is Konchalovsky's masterstroke along with the words of the songs sung by the singer. Other important trivia, the lead actress Yulia Vysotskaya is the director's wife of over 20 years. Her acting capability is showcased in wide variety of roles she has played in her husband's films--most importantly in "Paradise" and "Dear Comrades."

The film is further strengthened on the aural front beyond Bryan Adams by the music of composer Eduard Artemyev. Artemyev is often bypassed by the fans of Tarkovsky (in Solaris, Stalker, Mirror), Konchalovsky (in Siberiade, The Inner Circle, Homer and Eddie), Mikhalkov (The Barber of Siberia, A few days in the life of I. I. Oblomov) etc.

The crux of the film lies in the quotation of Tolstoy "Why is man happy when he kills another? What is there to be happy about?" recalled by a Russian army officer (played by a famous Russian actor, Evginiy Mironov, in the film towards the end.

A hospital near a monorail.A merciless war.The soldiers' grimness.The psychiatrist left his "psihushka" to seek means of securing his patients.The clinic is taken over alternatively by Chechens and by Russians,and made over into a battle scene.

The mad people:some are grovelling,others are grumpy,others grinning, contentious, fractious, petulant,forlorn, babyish,foul, fossils of disease.

The Chechen soldiers are portly,while some of the young ones are very handsome.

My favorite scene is the Chechens' song:heart-breaking and manly.It also offers a sample of the beauty and musical valences of that Oriental language.One of the best musical moments in cinema's history.

"Dom ..." is made of suavity and infinite tenderness.The story is limber.In depth,this flick about an amorous insane woman is a parable about the ambiguity of life.The score is a profusion of beauty and Oriental privacy.

Mrs. Vysotskaya is amazing as "Jana";the rest of the cast is first-class.

Visually,the movie is not as beautiful as many Russian movies are (e.g.,Utomlyonnye Solntsem).The photography is deliberately made to look like that of a documentary.The hospital is not grisly;"Dom Durakov" is not about madness in a clinical sense,nor war,nor love,for what love could be that;it is about the ambiguity of life,about the hidden infinite suavity.The hospital itself is a parable.It is a clinic of parable and symbol,not one of cruel naturalism.The aesthetics is one of insobriety,extravagance,fancy and powerful exuberance.

"Dom ..." features a pleasurable and plain cosmopolitanism:Adams and Chechen songs.

Konchalovsky is back in high form,with this work of contemplation and insight.

Tocilescu,the Romanian director,praised to the skies this film's richness.