Piter FM

At last this film is on IMDb. A wonderful debut by a new name in Russian film directing - Oksana Bychkova. Romantic comedy Piter FM falls into a category of so-called "films for mood". The joy of living, the feeling of approaching love... and the beautiful city as one of the main "actors".

The plot is simple. Masha is a radio DJ living in Russian "northern capital" St-Petersburg. She is going to marry her old school mate. Wedding dresses, cars, flowers - that's her everyday trouble. Running in a hurry to meet her bride who would arrange another very important thing for the marriage, she loses a phone, and a young architect Maksim finds it. Maksim is about to leave for Germany in a few days, but he tries to give the phone back to its owner - several times arranging meetings but with no success...

First of all, the movie is beautifully shot. Piter (St-Petersburg) is a wonderful city with fantastic architecture. In the film, the city is bright, moving, a city with a smile - sometimes kind, sometimes sad or ironical. Don't try to analyze the film, you just have to feel it. It's like music, like an impressionistic picture - the main thing is to capture a short moment, to live for the moment and to enjoy.

After this film I finally made up my mind to go and see this wonderful city.

P.S. Andrey Krasko - RIP. One of his last roles, a very short one but really impressing.

Masha is a radio DJ who works with Piter FM. She is about to get married. Maksim is an architect who is having to work as a handyman but has been offered a job as an architect in Germany. He is about to go to Germany. One day, as fate would have it, while crossing the road Masha drops her mobile phone and Maksim picks it up. With Masha and Maksim we take a trip into their funny and enchanting worlds. This movie makes you laugh and keeps you hooked until the very last minute, in an "Amelie"-like manner. This is Oksana Bychkova's first movie and make a note of this name. She is a director we must watch out for! Brilliant, Imaginative and Entertaining!

Your hapiness is always near you. You probably meet it like three times a day and don't recognize that. That's what the plot is. My question goes further: are you sure you don't have it already? Not feeling alright with your previous choices is probably more about you than about correctness of those choices. Nothing is guaranteed in this world, so why not just accept whatever you have?

The trailers give a very clear idea of what the film is going to be about. And so did the very first scenes of the film. It is about triggered love. Clear, yet I am still curious - in such issues as this, it is the process not the result that attracts us...

...

So, I just watched it. Indeed, the trailer reflected the style and story well.

True, logical development of an attachment. What also it is about? Also it is about internal freedom. Being loyal to your own self. Meeting of these 2 people, or rather their being aware of each other existence triggers changes in their life-long decisions. She decides to cancel her marriage. He - to stay in the city. Why? They both are not sure yet but unquestionably feel much better about their choices. By the end of the film they finally find a way to meet each other...

Even though the ideas of the film are not really new, the story presentation, people, scenery, white nights of St. Petersburg, great music choice - all come together and play off very well making this film a very fresh, freeing endeavour.

This movie falls into the category of great date movies: it's romantic and sweet enough for the women, and has enough humor and Russian bizarreness to sustain the men. Add to the mix a terrific soundtrack, tasteful cinematography, and an optimistic, life- and love-affirming plot - there's something for everyone.

More than just a story of young love, this is a valentine to St. Petersburg and its people. The city and its inhabitants are lovingly (if sometimes ironically) portrayed. While the male protagonist's dilemma - to leave or not to leave - is fairly typical for upwardly mobile Russians, with a fairly typical result (to leave, of course), the film tells us that there are plenty of reasons to stay and be happy with that choice. From beautiful buildings with centuries-old history to pretty girls in mini-skirts, there are many reasons to like St. Petersburg.

While by no means original (similar plot device of star-crossed lovers being connected in many ways and not realizing it until the fateful meeting has been explored by other movies, including Happenstance with Audrey Tautou), Piter FM is refreshing enough to stand out among the same old-same old of romantic comedies.