Okraina

In current times,the merits and strengths of Russian cinema are properly assessed only by those foreign critics and viewers who have also evaluated the artistic brilliance of other national cinemas.It is important to know that this trend is happening at a time when for some peculiar reasons Russian audiences have started to ignore the heritage of their own domestic cinema in order to appreciate films from different types of dead woods namely Bollywood and Hollywood.This small review is an earnest attempt to discuss the greatness of Russian cinema.Apart from water,land is recognized as one of the most recognizable universal concepts.As a film, Pyotr Lutsik's Okraina is based on the universal theme of land but chooses to depict an oddball case of land grabbing and its consequences on hapless peasants.This might appear simple to digest but Okraina is absolutely impossible to pigeonhole.Blackest of all black comedies would be the nearest brief plausible description of this film.The film's TOUR DE FORCE consists of some violent scenes which have an absolutely surreal charm.For example- proper attention must be paid to a scene wherein a man disappears in thin air under the ice to reappear after some time from the other side.The film is replete with several humorous scenes of this kind which shock the viewer in a positive sense.It is for this reason that an astute viewer has to marvel at indefatigable efforts by director Pyotr Lutsik who teamed up with his screenwriter colleague late Aleksei Samoryadov(1962-1994).Lastly a word of advice from film critic Mr.Lalit Rao-If a viewer has appreciated this film then the next best step would be to watch Boris Barnet's original Okraina which is considered as one of Russian cinema's greatest classics.

I thought this was a really beautiful movie. It is not the type of movie that can be a big commercial success, I don't think you have to be Russian to 'get it'. Actually in general I think it is wrong to try and understand a movie from the supposition that there is only one explanation and one correct interpretation. Obviously it tells us of a barren, vast country, where man struggles with the earth. The imagery is really powerful, it sticks in your head. The actors do a fabulous job. Lighting, decor and photography are just absolutely right there on perfection. I recommend this for people who want a feast for their eyes, mind and soul.

Definitely a decent movie. Unfortunately, if you are not Russian, you will find very little substance in it because it is choke-full of distinctly Russian cultural/folklore references, gags etc. that you have to be familiar with to understand. Peter Lutsik created a post-modern Russian fairy tale and enhanced it with imagery straight out of Soviet movies from 1930's. Certain parallells to Jim Jarmusch, particularly "Dead Man," can be drawn, with Lutsik's post-modern approach, the use of black and white film, and beautiful shots of Ural nature. Once again, good movie, but it's not for everyone.

"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.

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.