Musulmanin

I have seen a lot of movies, both Russian and American, and very few movies left a lasting impression on my heart, but even those movies were not as touching as the movie "Musulmanin" or "Muslim". This movie is a truly amazing work of art, and it definitely deserves more than one Oscar. The actors, especially Evgeniy Mironov who played the main character Kolya Ivanov, went above and beyond to make this movie unforgettable and incomparable. This movie should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Directing. Evgeniy Mironov should have won the Academy Award for Best Actor. I even want to say that the way Evgeniy Mironov portrays the life of a Muslim in an impoverished Russian village deserves more than one Oscar. I think the actor understood his character so well that they became one. This doesn't happen often in the world of cinematography. I have never seen a better actor performance than Evgeniy Mironov in the movie "Musulmanin". I think this movie should be shown in all large movie theaters of the world. More people should see the real beauty of art and the best movie ever made. I hope not to hurt anybody's feelings if I say that this movie left a deeper impression in my mind than the movie "Titanic" and other movies that won Oscars. What makes this movie an unforgettable work of art? - The best actor performance and the sadness in the eyes of the main character Kolya Ivanov played by wonderful Evgeniy Mironov, who is an absolutely beautiful person from inside and outside.

There is a fine line between a film that criticises society and a film that outright assaults society. This one falls into the latter category. It has absolutely nothing good to say about the Russian people, and nothing bad to say about the people who slit the throats of young Russian men. The idea that the protagonist wasn't killed when captured, and was even welcomed into Afghan society, seems fantastic. And what do the filmmakers do with this fantastic scenario? They use it as a plot device to show us just how sick, corrupt, and depraved every Russian in existence is. No one is spared here: his family, friends, locals, politicians, priests, his army buddies... But here's the ironic twist: While the film wants to portray as corrupt all these people who reject or even wish to murder the protagonist turned muslim, it makes the viewer wonder: Isn't at least that a redeeming feature of Russian society? Had an Afghan turned Christian, his own people would have killed him. These are the people whose morality the film glorifies from beginning to end. But perhaps it also means that Russian society still has the strength to condemn a traitor, despite all its shortcomings?

A Russian soldier returns to his dreary rural village after several years in captivity in Afghanistan. During this time, he has converted to Islam, but he finds his home village full of people who long ago lost their original Russian Orthodox faith, except for a few relics such as kissing the icons, and have also lost whatever belief in Marxism they may once have had. At the same time, they are left out of the economic changes that are occurring in the cities. They are stuck in an impoverished, depressing environment, and with no established guidelines, they adopt the principle of "Get it while you can." The local Orthodox priest is young and cheerful, but ultimately ineffectual against the deep-seated disillusionment and cynicism of the villagers, who drink, steal, sleep around, and look out for number one.

Into this environment comes a young man who actually believes in something. The usual problems of reverse culture shock (coming back home after a long time in a foreign environment) are exacerbated by his dismay at the behavior of his family and friends. They, in turn, find him insufferable. He won't drink, kiss the icons, or help steal from the local factory.

While the film drags in spots, it's a fine portrayal of a dysfunctional society in which no one believes in anything anymore. (Most non-religious people in more affluent societies have some set of philosophical principles that they follow, but that kind of disillusionment in an impoverished, uneducated society can lead to nihilism.) The villagers clearly need "something to believe in," even if it's just a way to improve the economic and social standing of their village.

In the meantime, what will they do when faced with someone who has a strong inner core of beliefs?

I did not particularly like this movie. During the Soviet times many Russian movies portrayed religious people as stupid and narrow-minded. In the 90's the trend reversed and this movie is an example of it. Too much emphasis on religion, and you feel that the makers of the movie are trying to push religion on you (whatever religion it might be).

The movie also attempts to be fancy-shmancy with symbolism, but the attempts seem quite forced.

The portrayal of a Russian village of the mid-90's is fairly accurate, but that's about the only redeeming feature of this flick.

> and as far as this goes, 60% of Russian population lives in villages > like the one shown

What an ignorant comment! FYI, 75% of Russians live in urban environments, and of the remaining 25% plenty live in quite prosperous villages (such as one where I spent most of the summers of my childhood in the early and mid-90's which is exactly when the movie is supposed to be taking place).

The film "Musul'manin" (or "Muslim") is about the return of the former Russian soldier who has been taken prisoner by Afghan warlords during Russia's long Afghan War (1975-85). Basically the theme of the movie is the moral breakdown and low-cultured existence of Russia's villages (and as far as this goes, 60% of Russian population lives in villages like the one shown) in the early-to-mid 90's (transitional years from Soviet Union to new Russia of today). The movie shows exceedingly well the main woes of Russia's society: ubiquitous alcoholism (and my fellow Russians, will have to agree that it's hardly exaggerated in the movie), larceny from the state by its citizens and from the citizens by the state, materialistic and opportunism-at-its-worst kind of mentality, boredom, lack of any entertainment, education or other facilities for youth, lack of basic necessities (like plumbing, sewing machines, roads, etc.), as well as unemployment (whether forced or voluntary). Add to that the "return of the soldier" plot with this soldier now being devout Muslim and being VERY pious, reverent and morally-righteous, unlike the rest of his home village This combination creates a lot of tension in the village, esp. between him and his alcoholic, out-of-control, ill-tempered and violent older brother, as well as between him and his new girl friend, mother and others. Film is got a little bit mystical side too, and a bit of thriller, but I don't want to give the surprise away, better watch it, :). So if you're interested in learning more about Russian culture, studying Russian language or just foreign movie enthusiasts, it's a good one to watch. One of the few best Afghan-related war movies as well.