Red Hot

Perhaps it is because the Soviet Union disintegrated several decades ago, perhaps not. But I found myself rather disconnected from "Red Hot" and felt it is a movie which tries hard but doesn't really connect well with audiences...particularly today.

Alexi is a promising music student. He has tons of talent and seems like a shoe-in to a prestigious Soviet music academy. However, he holds a dark secret...he likes rock 'n roll. And, in 1959 in the USSR, this is a very bad thing, as rock is forbidden because it is seen as decadent. Despite this, he buys music from the underground and even forms his own little band...one which cannot play anywhere in public for fear of arrest.

Aside from feeling disconnected from the characters, I also was surprised how very few people in the film sounded Russian. It's made worse because a few DO.

Now I am not saying it's a bad movie...it just didn't connect with me or make an impression on me one way of the other. Perhaps it will mean more to you...I just felt so flat about this story. And, if it's a true story (as the film really implies at the end), then why not say so?