andrew_st

Kira Muratova is known for the dark side in her movies which makes watching and analyzing her movies often a challenging job for those who are ready for such mental and emotional work. But this fantastic movie combines elegant screenplay, amazing operator job, charming melodies by Valentin Silvestrov, one of the best group of actors ever in Russian (or should I say Ukrainian as it was produced in Odessa, Ukraine) cinema - both "great four" (Demidova, Ruslanova, Deliev, Ruslanova) and actors in supporting roles WITH a moral concept which gets exposed only by the very end of the movie conveyed to us through the speech of absolutely fabulous actress, Alla Demidova. It feels like the actors "enjoy the feast" as well - their performance is light, charming and perfectly convincing. This movie is nothing it can be compared with, and will give a true pleasure to all lovers of the great Russian cinema. I would dare to call it a comedy with some serious moral issues discussed - a rare combination, isn't it?

Unfortunately this movie is doomed to stay underestimated both by critics and blind audience. Many will claim it as "shallow", others won't miss an opportunity to stick a label of cognation with other movies. In reality this movie has much more to deliver than an attempt to entertain a spectator with one more story of a "girl from suburbs" who is so charming/smart/loving that she has no other choice than to become eventually Cinderella. In my opinion this really good movie's main idea is that EVERY person that crosses our way comes in our life intentionally (may be to teach us something if we are smart enough to understand that). And that everyone (even one who looks so distant, arrogant and naughty at the first sight) can become a friend and guardian if you try to understand and care about that person. Some episodes (no wonder those with participation of amazing Meryl Streep) will probably never leave your memory ("I said myself - go ahead. Take a chance. Hire this smart, fat girl..." or the conversation in a car in Paris). The only role that actually left me a bit disappointed is that of Emily Blunt. She was a bit too much...