Obyknovennoe chudo

An Ordinary Miracle has really stood out among the run of Russian films I've seen, which was at a very high standard. And I mean this in a very good way. An Ordinary Miracle is a beautiful-looking film, the fantasy settings are wondrous and the scenery like some of the other best of Russian films makes me wish I could go to Russia. The photography is of the kind that is simple but also very elegant. The music is orchestrated sensitively and to the extent that you wish you can buy it on CD alone, the songs also stick in your head for days and are just lovely. There is some satire in the dialogue and it's very sharp and hilarious, and there's a lot of thoughtful and touching moments too. The story made me laugh with the satire, cry or feel very touched with the three romances(very romantic and charming) and in awe with the fantasy elements. It is also swiftly told, I was impressed at how much there was, it's a quite long film but never tiresome. The characters are quirky engage hugely, all of them serving a point. The acting is theatrical but still very good, Oleg Yankovsky and Irina Kupchenko are excellent. Overall, beautiful film and a miracle really. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The film An Ordinary Miracle IS a miracle, an extraordinary miracle, born in the harmonious union of cinema and theater. It mixes magically the elements of elegant Comedy Del Arte, not just one but three beautiful romances, hilarious and unforgettable characters, humor, satire, the dialogs and quotes that have become the part of every day conversations in all Post Soviet Russian speaking countries, and colorful musical fairy tale. It was made 33 years ago, but it is as fabulous and modern as ever, and it does not age at all. Miracles never do. No matter how many years have passed, it will always be difficult to be a real man, and always will be tedious to prove that you are worthy of your fame. And while there is humanity, "Glory to brave who dare to love, knowing that this will come to an end. Thank to madmen who live, as if they were immortal."

I saw this miracle of fantasy, music, romance, and comedy dozens of times and thought that I knew it almost by heart. But earlier today, while re-watching it after many years for the first time, I realized clearly that that the entire film, all this glorious extravaganza is the anthem to love and passion of a creator to the process of creation, to fantasy, dreams, the flights of imagination that give birth to miracles and give us the joy to witness and admire them. The film belongs to two wizards, the miracle-workers. One, in the amazing performance by Oleg Yankovki, is the screen wizard whose love for his wife and imagination brought to live the story and the characters and turned their lives upside down, sending them to the roads they never dreamed of going. He held the fate of all characters, but gave them the choices that would change them forever. The other wizard is the Master behind the scenes, Marc Zakharov, whose talent, creativity, and vision made the miracle possible. Everything in it is magical: the score and songs by G. Gladkov are so unique and memorable,they deserve separate and long conversation, as well as festive Masquerade/carnival atmosphere, bitter-sweet love stories (not one but three), and the amazing performance by all actors without exception. The best the film could be defined by the very first line of the main song, the Wizard's song: "absurd, ridiculous, foolish, crazy, magical".

The only reason that I'm ranking it 9 instead of 10 is that fact that it's... not actually a movie.

It's based on a theatre play, directed by a theatre director, and it shows in everything: the dialogue, the set, the scenes, the costumes, the actors often talking and looking directly at the audience... However, if you're willing to disregard that little detail and instead watch it as a recorded theatre play, it's an absolutely breathtaking experience.

The movie is based on the play of the same name by Evgenyi Shvartz, one of the most significant Russian The story is painfully simple: two young people fall in love, even though they cannot be together. The literal magic and the magic of being human twist together to make a beautiful plot about love out of this world. People born in the Soviet Union know the iconic songs and quotes from this movie by heart. The cast is stellar, although a few of them are first and foremost theatre actors, which, again, shows.

Mark Zakharov has done a number of interesting, allegoric films ('To Kill a Dragon', for one), often adapting plays of Yevgeni Shvarts. Yet 'An Oridnary Miracle' is much more than just one in a bunch.

What we have here is a tale coming to life, an allegory in its full sense. The plot is centered around the Wizard, played superbly by Oleg Yankovsky, and his wife (another fantastic performance by Irina Kupchenko). The Wizard utters words, and we see them come to life - literally. He is dictating every move of this story, setting the pace and force of action. Creating a solid world by imagination, a world that stumbles upon his tired wife and wouldn't leave until set right.

The center of this imaginary world is a love story, a fairy tale of a bear turned into a man who has to be kissed by a princess to return to his true form. Zakharov handles this in a beautiful way. The love story is very romantic, yet never too sweet, accompanied with superb supporting characters of the King (Yevgeni Leonov) and his Minister Administrator (Andrei Mironov), the very stars of the Soviet Russian cinema.

Everything is very theatrical in this movie. Anotther commenter here mentioned it's due to Zakharov's occupation as a theatre director. Yet it seems there's more to it, since other pictures of his hold less of this stage atmosphere. Having seen this movie numerous times, i like to think this 'theatricity' as, for one, an homage to Shvarts' plays, and also as yet another allegory of life and imagination, when everyone of us can be creators of many things. Creating our own life, which is nothing but an (un)ordinary miracle.

The whole movie, i think, comes to a simple truth, articulated in many masterpieces (it would fit to remember Tarkovsky here): it is difficult to be a creator. This gift comes with its own rules, sometimes far beyond control. Yet by allowing it to come, we can produce small, ordinary miracles. To quote the theme song of the movie, 'awkwardly, funnily, illogically, mindlessly - miraculously'.

Everything is right in this classic film. The music is gorgeous, the acting superb and the color photography entrancing. Add to this the direction of the great Mark Zakharov and you can't miss. A magician (Yankovsky) changes a bear into a handsome youth (Abdulov). This spell will be broken ONLY if the young man meets, falls in love with and is kissed by a princess. If that does happen the man will revert back to being a bear FOREVER!!!!! And at the 25 minute mark of a film over two hours long the princess meets the youth.

To me this is the second greatest Russian film and can be viewed again and again. You will love it!