Igla

If you can understand Russian then you simply have to watch this film, I'm not aware of an English translation available but if you find one and have an interest in life at the end of the USSR then watch Igla. This film is a vehicle for Viktor Tsoi, Soviet rock superstar and one of the most talented musicians there has ever been. It's a film made on a budget but this adds to the atmosphere of the thing,The film has some great direction and although cheap has been made with thought and care. However the best thing about this film is it's soundtrack, truly brilliant, Tsoi really is a music icon and this film, made not long before his death is a fitting tribute to him and his legacy. I recommend this film wholeheartedly!

The main attraction in the movie is obviosly it's main actor - Viktor Tsoy, a late Russian rock star with an asian facial qualities. Eleven years after his death, his music still holds a huge following and unfortunately exploited. In this movie, he plays a Bruce Lee-esque character who defeats the villains and suffers for it in the end. I love this movie because I'm a huge fan of Tsoy's band "KINO" otherwise I wouldn't pay much attention to it. Great soundtrack and interesting photography. Unfortunately Tsoy was not an actor and he was pretty much playing himself. Pyotr Mamonov, ex-leader of Russian experimental band "Zvuki Mu" probably was the best actor but received a minor role.

Moro is with Dina out near where the Aral seashore used to be. He notices scorpions on the ground. He sits above them, gathering them into a jar, and tells Dina that he never saw scorpions there (Kazakhstan) 3 years before. Is he simply talking nonsense, or is he speaking about the return of the Kazakh people, or is he speaking of the failures of the Soviet Union, which took away Kazakh identity in exchange for (failed) modernization?

I am a huge fan of the band KINO (I remember first hearing their work in the mid-80s). I sat down with the director, Nugmanov, who is a great person. I have also seen "The Wild East." I love foreign cinema. Does this mean that my review is biased? Yes, to a point....

"The Needle" (only available on DVD either non-subtitled from Russia or in PAL format with multi-subtitles from Sweden), is "one of those movies for those who were fans of Tsoi." You'll read this over and over and over again! However, by only taking that position, one doesn't understand the HISTORIC importance of a band like KINO or a movie of this type.

Once upon a time, there was a place called the USSR. There was no allowance for individual expression, nor was there any films that were outside of State ideology. There was no drug use there. There were no gangs or blackmarket. That's how it was. Right??? NO. For one, Tsoi was extremely popular, and his lyrics were beautiful and poetic, and his music illegal. Movies that never existed (in the eyes of the State) somehow did exist ("The Kommissar," "Benya Krik," "Color of Pomegranates"). The Soviet Union had its problems, just like every country. When you think "Vodka," what country pops into one's head? It was great to be the state and control EVERY aspect of one's life for Socialism.

However, there were some great break-away filmmakers that wanted more, regardless of what SSR they originated. Tarkovsky was one (he went into self-exile), Paradjanov was "crucified" by authorities, but others, like Romm, were able to toe that fine line. How some other movies passed while others didn't is well worth analyzing. Nugmanov, who was best friends with Tsoi, made this sole feature that starred the late rock star. Because of this, Nugmanov's "Igla" and "The Far East" shall go down into history books as significant to the study of the Soviet Union (and glasnost), film, and music (and the Kazakh New Wave cinema movement). These movies were made in the waning years of the Soviet Union...

The movie is nearly a type of "commercial" vehicle for Tsoi, but it is also a "slap in the face" to the socialist regime that attempted to squelch free speech. Note the huge ship in the middle of a dried-up sea (I believe the Aral). The Kazakh people, like Nugmanov, definitely saw that their country was destroyed by socialist policy. Like the Indians in North America with alcohol abuse, drug abuse was a way of life in the SSR, but not allowed to be shown. There is no happiness through socialist realism. In reality, the SSR is barren, overcast, seedy, and sad. That it the way Nugmanov showed it, and he enjoyed placing Tsoi as the lead in it. There are other great characters (and acting) in the movie, most notable is Dina (Smirnova) and Spartak (Bashirov).

Oh, and the movie is about drug abuse and failed policy, but also about the coolness of Tsoi. But the "needle" could refer to the feel-good socialist realism that is like a drug by the State to distance or hide people from the reality of life. It can also be Nugmanov using film as a needle to inject the audience with a bit of reality.

Note how scenes of the movie begin and end with television programs. Try to "read" that!

It's not an entirely original plot, but it sure is a good movie, even with its ambiguities (like, why has Tsoi returned and who is he?). Decent film compositions, use of acting talent, and, yes, music by KINO!

9 of 10. ------- E.

It's a western in a way. A drifter comes into town to seek out a guy who owes him money and gets in touch with an old flame. But it's a bleak world, with gang violence and drug addiction lurking beneath the surface.

People act tough and just trying to get by in a seemingly hopeless post communist Russia, where life is a little dark and absurd. The hero tries to do the right thing, benefited of a somewhat comic stoicism, he is compassionate of the eccentric types he finds.

It's touching and sad and finds humor in odd moments. The hero does not affect coolness but is cool, despite being kind of a thug. The mellow mood conveys a poetic sense of longing. From within a sense of cultural decay, there is a hope for a better world, and a sad awareness it is not so easily found.

The music, the mood, the visual style are all very good. It's understated but elegant, symbolic but subtle. There's a post punk attitude, and a jangly alternative guitar vibe.

Highly recommended for fans of quirky indie dramatic comedies.

I have no doubt that the main reason why many people chose to watch this film was because the Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi was the protagonist, and this was my reason for watching too. I have been a fan of his music for quite a while, so was curious how about this film, and it was actually far better than I expected.

Tsoi does a great job at playing the role of the protagonist Moro, and whilst the plot was fairly simple, I still enjoyed it. As many others have also pointed out, the ending scene was very good and I can understand why it became so iconic.

The soundtrack here is also great, with several iconic Kino songs playing throughout the duration of the film, as well as some original music that was created specifically for the film.

Ultimately, if you are a fan of Viktor Tsoi and Kino, you will definitely enjoy this film. However, if you are not, you may not find much that holds your interest unless you are particularly a fan of late Soviet-era films such as this.