Okraina

"The Outskirts" - a black and white multi-genre drama by Pyotr Lutsik according to the script of Aleksey Samoryadov. In this ingenious film, the authors have mixed so many genres of cinema that you wonder, this is a parable, a western, a road movie, and a retro film. 30s of the 19th century, the outskirts of Russia, a group of men not finding the truth at home, go to seek this truth in the capital, in Moscow. It is unfortunate that the fate of the authors of this masterpiece was so tragically, for various reasons early from the deceased.

Unfortunately if you do not live in Russia you'll hardly understand this film, which is totally postmodern. There are a lot of cultural codes in it. This film is not black humored - it's about dark Russian soul. Also you'll get perfect lesson of film-making here, Lytzyk uses first-class cinema language. If your dream is shooting (booth - camera work & killing people) - take a look.

First of all, I'll completely disagree with at least one of the comments that say that it's not a dark comedy. It most certainly is. This particular aspect comes from all the (largely off-screen or implied) violence, which is ALWAYS intended to be funny.

I will agree with all of the comments saying that non-Russians will not get it. It's true. In fact, the subtitles are quite bad... They really miss a lot of the meaning. More importantly, there is so much irony and there are so many references to Russian/Soviet culture that even the more ardent non-Eastern-European Russophile will miss a lot of what makes the movie so great.

On to the actual film-making: On the outside, it might seem like a "heavy" movie that's not for the average person, but - as is the case with most dark comedies - it comes out very light in the end. The pace might be a little slow at times, but it seems like this aspect is one of the many instances of parodies of old Soviet movies. As other reviewers have mentioned, a LOT of the movie's style is very Soviet-like - dark lighting (it might seem noir, but I'd argue that it's just how Soviet films were made), simple editing, amazing deadpan acting.

Simply put, if you know Russian or Soviet culture and cinema culture well enough, this is a very interesting and original movie. Otherwise, I doubt that you'll appreciate it too much.

Okraina is an epic movie about family, land and patriotism. It's a pity this movie is little known in Russia. I wish it had the marketing budget of Nochnoi Dozor but sadly that kind of thing never happens.

I'm afraid that non-Russians won't understand the message of this movie, not to say of the cultural/folklore references. "Surreal slapstick" would be the most probable foreign viewer's reaction.

Grotesque at first sight, the movie is actually dead-serious. It appeals to deepest instincts of a Russian soul. Personally, I think this is number one most important movie shot in Russia in last 15 years.

It's a very hard movie,and I didn't really find any funny moments-it might be a very peculiar kind of humor which I really don't get.What can I say about Okraina?A very strange movie,somewhere a mix between Tarkovski(the overall mud),Tarantino(the fun of having someone's blood on its clothes),Kurosawa(the gang of men looking for justice),to say nothing about Dziga Vertov,Eisenstein in the expressionistic language.Despite this strange mixture,the movie remains a highly original,and illuminating in understanding why Bakunin,Stalin,the Ukrainian murderers in the Holocaust could exist.It is a movie who needs open-minded,and patient audience.What stunned me-it might be ironic,I hope,it's the collectivist happy end.So,if you love Tarantino,find Tarkovski breathtaking and have nihilistic thoughts,you will like.Others,try it,it might be alright.