Malmkrog

If you wanna go through Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment in less than 4 hours, this is your chance.

In high school years, I read the book of Soloviov. The impression was powerful and, after decades, its taste, the state are far to be altered.

The film selects its audience - this is the premise in its case. For dialogues, themes, for the three hours long, for the acting and for the atmosphere on set, for nuances and grace of silences, for perspectives and for relation between characters.

In fact, its virtue is be more than an exceptional film and, maybe, the masterpiece of Cristian Puiu filmography, but a precious seed for the viewer mind, return to youth lectures and to old fears and doubts.

In some measure, a film for teenagers. Indeed, old teenagers.

But just perfect for them.

Probably the best way to discover or re-discover phylosophical rivalities in european history. Yes, it is slow, there is no action. But a great way to discover european history .

And it ain't Transformers 2 :D.

For me the best thing is how a novel written by a Russian philosopher that died in the year 1900 remains relevant today. Two world wars and millions of dead later it's like listening to 21. Century liberals and conservatives argue.

Hey, but we have Facebook and Arby's!

That's not entertainment. Which forbids it to be appreciated by any viewer who would want to be carried along by a plot, or a tension, or simply character acting. None of this in here. So let's forget about that audience.

This is a serious movie. So serious that it is totally devoid of any second degree, It's a movie proud of being.pedagogic. Therefore there is no humor, no provocation, nothing going over the top. So this is not for those who like their brains teased, or their knowledge challenged, or their cognitive bias toyed with. Let's forget about that audience.

This is too short a movie, running only at 200 minutes, it needed a few hours more, like 8 or 10. The movie endeavors to explore interlacing of society and philosophy at a key time in European history, a fascinating subject, unfortunately it is like a poorly introduced summary for students who have failed to do the proper reading before an exam. There is not enough background to provide learning for those new to the subject, and there is nothing new to be discovered for those already versed in it. So let's forget about this and that audience.

In summary, this a nicely shot, well written, intelligent and ambitious movie, which failed to choose which viewers to address. Too bad.