Jazzmen

It is rather unfortunate that not much is known about the influence of music in Russia and East European countries.The theme of films about music has remained a rather ignored genre as very few films have been made about music in the history of Russian and East European cinema.We are Jazzmen is a brilliant Russian film which makes a valiant attempt at filling that void.It is hoped that it will give both cinema viewers and music lovers a fairly good idea about the state of music in the former Soviet republic.It is a film directed by a well known Russian director Mr.Karen Shaknazarov who has made light films in his short albeit outstanding career.We are Jazzmen is set in Odessa and is about three young people who would like to make a mark on the country's musical scene.Russian director Karen Shaknazarov has set his film in 1920s which was a time when all kinds of good music used to flourish in Russia.Jazz music is at the center stage and the narrative structure is based on the premise that Jazz music was considered as a bourgeois art by Soviet people.There are plenty of lovely jazz tunes to be heard as one of the band members decides to prove that Jazz music is an art form of the masses as the struggle of black people in America was characterized was Jazz music.Although this film was made in 1983 it has not lost its relevance as it gives viewers a fresh idea about Russian cinema which has been trying to regain its lost glory.Film critic Lalit Rao got a chance to see this film and interview Russian director Karen Shaknazarov when a retrospective of his films was shown at 13th International Film Festival of Kerala,Trivandrum,India (December 2008)

The English transliteration is misleading. The name is actually pronounced "Moo-ee Ee-z dschaz" kind of meaning We are Jazz. The music is more ragtime than jazz, but this is a great hero-esque story, especially if you can deal with white subtitles on light colored backgrounds.

Cute music movie from the last decade of Soviet Union. Amusing music and nice tap dance. Igor Sklyar and beautiful Elena Tsyplakova are charming. Aleksandr Pankratov-Chyornyy, Nikolay Averyushkin and Pyotr Shcherbakov are a funny trio. We do follow the amateur band's adventures in order to become famous jazz players, in a kind of Soviet John Carney movie. The script is not the most tight and there are some prejudice problems: besides reproducing the bad reputation attributed to Roma people, there are also two very unnecessary and criticized cases of blackface (one of a blond Russian singer potraying the role of an important Jazz star, and another one of Averyushkin's character pretending to be a black drummer in the story). Anyway, while the film has some drawbacks and sins, and is certainly not among the masterpieces of Mosfilm, it is nice and entertains.

For those who enjoy the music and style of 1920s entertainment, "We're from Jazz" is smile-inducing, genial light entertainment. And as that is the entire point of the film, it wouldn't be very fair to ask much more from it.

There's a basic plot, but it doesn't get too involved because it's really just there to introduce four likable characters and get them into various situations where they can play jazz -- which in many cases swings over to what might better be called ragtime or even big-band, but who's really counting? The music is good.

The heroes run into political opposition to this new Western music and even end up hobos for a while, but the stakes never seem fantastically high, because everyone knows we're here for a good time rather than high drama. Things do get a bit odd when our heroes start following an unconvincing Cuban singer, though, who seems to know English, Russian, and only about one word of Spanish.

The potential subjects for Soviet film seem to have broadened hugely in the late 1980s, and this one has a nice time waxing nostalgic about a subject that it admits was a hot-button in its time but now is matter for the breeziest of breezy films. If you like the music of the era that is its subject, this movie is aimed right at you.

A good musical with a good message. What does it mean to have a friend and to be the one? It is shown in this movie.

Larisa Dolina in a Negro make-up is a killer. She is asked a straight question: "Togda, mozhet, pivka?" Ridiculous. Igor Sklyar's character is superb in his childish manner of behaving himself. The image of a little girl sitting at a gramophone with those dreamy eyes of hers is like an impressionist's painting. The background music is touching and mild. There is a good plot too, but the whole upper mood is the thing that counts.

The movie comforts and cheers you up. Odessa is coming to your home with this film. It is a heart-warming movie with incredible atmosphere.

There is one interesting story connected with this film. Nikolai Karachentsov, a famous Russian actor, once was offered the leading role in this movie. He rejected it. When time passed and Karachentsov saw the final product, boy, was he upset by his decision! But to me Igor Sklyar is the perfect choice for this film. His touchy character with a soft voice feels and looks innocent and vulnerable.

It deserves the highest mark being a movie you cannot improve and cannot forget. Thanks for attention.