Svadba

As a North American who spent three months in Russia in 1995, all I can say is that this movie is a true reflection of what I experienced while I was there. The atmosphere of the film is true to life. If ones wants to get the feeling of a Russian party, this is it. Even though people don't have much to live on, they are ready to chip in and to share everything they have. This is not a comedy, this is a social study on life in Russia in 2000, but it is enjoyable.

In Lipski, a small town 200 km far from Moscow, in a post-socialism Russia, the top-model Tanya (Mariya Mironova) returns home after five years in Moscow. She meets the shy miner Mishka (Marat Basharov), for whom she had a crush when she was a teenager, and proposes him, after gambling heads or tails. Mishka accepts to marry her, but he does not have any money for the feast or for a gift. His honored father makes the arrangements for the simple party. His drunken friend Garkusha (Andrei Panin) decides to help him to get money for a wedding gift, but indeed he gets Mishka into trouble with the nasty local chief of police Borzov (as Aleksandr Semchev), a limited man who aims to be transferred to Moscow. Meanwhile, the wealthy former lover of Tanya, Borodin (Vladimir Simonov), comes to Lispki, trying to recover Tanya. Further, after the ceremony, Tanya discloses surprising revelations to Mishka. 'The Wedding' is a totally unpredictable funny movie, showing samples of the post-socialism Russia, with the happy, beautiful and broken people, the powerful and corrupt capitalist (Borodin), traces of the former authoritarian regime (Borzov) and lots of vodka. The happiness and the beauty of the people without money recalled me in many situations the joyful Brazilian people. The gorgeous Mariya Mironova resembles the American actress Cameron Diaz. 'The Wedding' is a different and interesting movie for viewers who appreciate different cultures. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): 'As Bodas' ('The Wedding Feast')

First of all, through the entire movie I felt like I have already seen this movie in some sense. After I have finished watching it, I realized it - Lars Von Trier, Celebration. And it was not the script, it was that "documentary" style that made me watch the movie without uttering a single word. "Marriage" puts you in the middle, not only you watch it but you live it with the characters.

I have lived in the largest coal-mining region in Ukraine for a long time. 95% of the situation in the movie is true.

I think that the casting was excellent, militia major is more than believable, Marat Basharov is very sincere, Andrei Panin is a natural "russian soul".

I totally recommend this movie to everybody !

The same theme as "A Wedding" by Robert Altman, but with the much sadder social context of contemporary Russia. Communism might be finished (notwithstanding the odd hammer and sickle still showing here and there), but the quality of life of the people has not improved - with the only exception of mafia-stile capitalists. Towards the end of the film the chief of police says excitedly: "I AM BACK !", and this might be the sad reflection of the author on the future of the country (not necessarily back to Communism, that is, but to an authoritarian regime of sort).

And still, the people maintain a sort of desperate cheerfulness - made of jokes, drinking, music, dancing and sex. If you liked "Black Cat, White Cat" by Emir Kusturica (or the wedding scene in Underground) you will like this film.

Five years ago, Tania (Mariya Morinova) left her small village and left to Moscow, pursuing a career as a model. Now she returns, and for everyone's surprise, she decides to marry Mishka (Marat Mashanov), her former lover. As the preparations for the wedding begin, many passions are set loose. Mishka's family does not trust Tania and Mishka himself doubts about Tania's motivations. To make things worse, Mishka is not wealthy, so he must rely on his best friend Garkusha's talent for the illegal in order to raise money. The Wedding night will be full of surprises.

That is the plot of "Svadba", a Russian movie that proves that good movies are made with love and not with SFX. The wedding celebration is a perfect background for this comedy/drama that explores the misfortunes of a typical Russian family of miners. The realistic approach taken by director Pavel Lungin makes the audience feel part of the celebration, as if it were the real video home of an authentic wedding.

Part of this success is due to the great acting of the cast, Andrei Panin is outstanding as Garkusha and he steals every scene he is in. His character the perfect catalyst between drama and comedy, giving the film humor and heart. Mariya Morinova is beautiful and shows a great talent for drama as the mysterious Tania. The rest of the cast is quite good and everyone receives a chance to shine as the wedding party goes on.

"Svadba" presents us a glimpse of Russian society; in a manner similar to India's "Monsoon Wedding" or Mexico's "El Anzuelo", the wedding is an event that serves as backbone to the stories of the family friends and relatives, from the sister who can't find a boyfriend to the town's police chief, who wants nothing but to leave the small village.

Another point that is handled with subtlety by the movie, is the new society of post-Communist Russia. In the small village that seems lost in time, Moscow is like a dream, where capitalism runs rampant and where everything is to be possible. However, Tania returns home looking for a quieter way of life, and the inhabitants of her hometown represent that lost innocence she struggles to recover.

The movie is a light-hearted comedy with touches of drama that has enough charm to capture the attention without getting boring, or overtly sentimentalist. This is a movie that proves that all a movie needs to be good is a lot of heart. 8/10