Mimino

"Mimino" is one of the best and most popular Russian-speaking comedies ever made, it's a classic and is still often shown on TV. There certainly is a reason - despite a simple plot it's not primitive at all and is still funny even after the twentieth watching. The only big problem with it is that people who don't speak Russian well probably won't understand the humor, as most of it based on the characters grammar mistakes and accents (Georgian and Armenian).

In several small roles famous Russian actors are cast, notably Vladimir Basov as the opera singer and Savelij Kramarov as the convicted criminal.

A memorable quote: "Listen, I'll tell you one clever thing, just don't get hurt: I must drive to the airport first, because in the airport there's one Georgian, my familiar friend; I'll come to him and tell him - 'Hello, Valiko-chan', and he'll say - 'Wah!'; so it will be pleasant to him and when it will be pleasant to my friend, it will be pleasant to me and when it will be pleasant to me I'll drive in such a way that it will be pleasant to you too!" (as you see, it's quite hard to translate the style - the original is a lot better).

Helicopter pilot from Georgia (the one in the former Soviet Union) goes to Moscow hoping to become an international pilot. There he befriends a guy from Armenia (near Georgia, but not the same!), runs out of money, finds himself in jail, etc. The movie plays out lots of funny differences between Russian (read - European) and Georgian (more Eastern) cultures, provincial vs. big city, and others. And as a golden thread throughout the whole movie - kindness, decency and warm hearts of the heroes. This play on cultural differences evoke "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", which was made thirty years after "Mimino"...

I am not sure if this movie has ever been subtitled in English, but I am sure it would be a delight to American viewers.

for Vakhtang Kikabidze performance, one of Soviet cinema legends . for the music. and for the game with national identity details. nostalgic, fresh, warm, it is testimony of a time and proof of a kind of freedom. show of small things, picture of cultural misunderstandings, story of honest man in big city, it is not exactly a comedy but bitter reflection to sense of desire. moral lesson, like many other films of period, it is, today, nostalgic view of self - definition. beautiful images of Georgia, streets of Moscow, silhouette of churches, meetings and troubles, the secondary characters of village, the people of city, the cow in air and the adorable Hachikian in Frunzik Mkrchyan are parts of touching entertainment. In this conditions, Mimino remains a bright face of a period , poetic, childish and really precious.

Mimino can be said to be the single best Kino to come out of Georgia. A light hearted romp about one man's heart and the charming Muscovite smile that takes him on his journey.

I don't want to give too much away, but let me say you do not know comedy until you have seen a cow being transported by a helicopter. Mimino also learns the Armenians are actually decent folk, which is nice to know.

IMDb score 10/10, I would give it 12 but I can't. Top score for being a Soviet comedy that is actually funny, and bonus ducks for creating awareness of the Nation of Georgia.

After decades, it remains the same. The humor, the seductive plot, the lovely Vakhtang Kikabidze performance. And, sure, the feeling of old world rediscover. Because all is heroic, nice and hopeful like in the time of childhood. The friendship, the ideals, the dialogues and cultural clashes are the good points for one of Soviet films proposing not exactly the picture of a social reality or moralistic lesson but just a simple story about greatness of life.