Sobaka na sene

Entertaining and fun, plus incredible acting.

Just have watched this movie… AGAIN… -- and again have been taken away by its light sparkling beauty and inspiring mood. Believe it or not, this 400-year old play by Lope de Vega is very adequate to modern life. Indeed, the female wisdom of the lady of the high society, caught between her desire of woman's happiness with the man she loves and strict social prohibitions of her rank, eventually teaches her that life is not about social rules but about "allowing the Soul's dreams to fulfill". The actors are wonderful. Both Diana and Theodoro look stunningly gorgeous in the inspired performance by Margarita Terechova and Michail Boyarski, though neither could be even considered handsome by Hollywood standards. Interesting music, heart-felt lyrics, good-natured humor, fantastic surroundings and costumes – everything makes for an excellent joyful entertainment with "feel-good" aftertaste.

This beautiful film is a true classic with all the actors each in their zenith of acting and the director being perhaps one of the best in Soviet times. This masterpiece can even be put close to the 1979 "Tot samyy Myunkhgauzen" which, undoubtedly, is the crown of achievable art. With unforgettable music and just amazing acting, Sobaka will spellbound you from the start. Mikhail Lozinsky delivers an unbelievable good translation from Spanish. For Sobaka na Cene (Dog on the Hay) is an old drama written by Lope de Vega. What defines old Spanish tales is the fact that they are very intriguing. If there ever was an Eifel Tower in art, this just has to be it!

This is a work of art that is so brilliantly talented, that it is hard to believe that it is possible to capture on film something so perfect. It is a 300 years old play by Lope de Vega who wrote so many that he was called Phoenix of Spain, most of it comedies. The movie is perfect in any way - as a theater transformed onto film, as a musical (music by Gladkov), as a comedy, even as drama.

If this film would be allowed to travel to worlds movie festivals it would come back with a truckload of awards. What is to be said about this film above all the rest - actors, actors, actors ! They are not teenagers picked of the street and artificially pumped into stardom, they are real, genuine, actors, actors by heart and hard work, immensely talented people, seasoned in cinema and theater. Even the surroundings and costumes (which for some reason always interests Westerners so much) are stunning, they are so live, breathing, as if picked out of the authentic paintings. Terehova carries herself in such way, that if Isabella of Portugal herself has stepped down from the painting in her flaming red velvet dress she would look pale and gray. Terehova really IS the great and majestic Diana, it doesn`t have to be accented and hinted by syrupy sounds, blurry shots and all that stuff.

Watch it ! This movie really is seventh ART !