Zobens

As a "Soviet" film, the idea for it first had to presented to and approved by the USSR Central Authority for film production and then (except for the "big" productions, which were done directly by MosFilm) it was farmed out by them to the regional film studios. So it was made by the Riga Film Studio in the City of Riga in the then "Latvian SSR", (Today the area has regained its freedom and is the independent Republic of Latvia - a NATO & European Union member state). The reason why it was given to them of course was never stated anywhere, but the most probable explanation is that the All-Soviet Union Motor Museum was located in Riga, which meant that it was the one place in the USSR with access to a substantial number of American cars. With about a dozen American cars (ranging in eras from 1960 to 1980) and another dozen Western European cars as backup, and the city of Riga (which at this point had been under Russian military/civilian occupation for 40 years and had largely been transformed into a Soviet Standard city) as backdrop, they set about showing their audience "life in America"!

It is based on a novel written by an American and, briefly, it tells the story of an Armored Car robbery that takes place in the United States. (I believe, the same novel was also the basis of the "Hollywood" film: "They Came to Rob Las Vegas", as major parts of the plots of both these films, are identical).

Unfortunately, I have no idea how one would go about seeing this, over four hours long, film in the US. But if you ever do, seeing it as an American will have you rolling on the floor with laughter, for its portrayal of life (and the "look") of the USA. For that reason, I highly recommend it (and give it an "8" - it WILL entertain you)!

(To be fair, "Hollywood" movie portrayals of Russia, Russians and Moscow in particular, have most real Russians rolling on their floors with laughter, as well.)