Skazka

I had no idea what this was. I was going in thinking this was an animated film and although it can be called that, it's entirely a different beast. Right from the start with the almost post apocalyptic Iooking setting we see Stalin waking up next to Jesus and Hitler calling out Stalin. Then we see Churchill and Mussolini joining in with each of them having a number of brothers all of whom are themselves in different phases. The film is about all theses European tyrants responsible for millions of death represented through deepfake technology from their real life footages. The film explores their philosophy, ignorance, hate and respect with regards to their worldview and to each other that is sometimes insightful and sometimes hilarious. However, I am not completely sure about everything the film wants to talk about. It looks like the director is a centrist who wants to see all the sides of these people. But I'm still confused about a lot in this film but it was definitely a fascinating experience.

Sokurov has definitely surpassed Herman's "It's Hard to Be a God". Definitely. (but not "Khrustalev, car" - well and that would be superfluous...) The use of VR and AI (in a way - because, it's not making Michael Jackson sing again, nor it's making ABBA young - but it's AI+VR to me) - was a brilliant solution. It merges feelings from "The Lord of the Rings" with those from Cocteau' "Testament of Orpheus". I would even add Murnau... So, it's dreamy, B&W, nonlogical, whimsical, fun - and with a second meaning... To boil all that in one charade - really takes a genius.

Putting Sokurov in one row not only with Herman, but Tarkovsky as well.

Enjoyable experince.