Shine, Shine, My Star

This late 60s Russian films is set in 1920, just 3 years after the October revolution. Folks had the choice between red and white, revolution and contra revolution. In that torn-apart-time, one man, the comedian Wolodja, tries to mediate, not between different ideologies, but social life and art.

While others just want to wash away their gloom, he reflects on the everyday sorrows and the role of art in that time of changes.

Like in most Russian films, not only of that time, you have to read between the lines, to get the whole meaning. Although its basic atmosphere is quite tempered, there is a much darker, more realistic inhere. The self-ironic Russian cinema is worth a look, take this one.

Chapter divisions, 60s music, and illustrations give the film a visual style.

One of the layers of the film is reflections on the purpose of the theater, which are illustrated by Oleg Tabakov's monologues (in general, this film can be called a kind of benefit performance of Oleg Tabakov). For example, the question is considered whether a creative person should make compromises.

The song performed in the bath - the same that gave the title to the film - with the words "If I die, then you over the grave .." gives the story a tragic note and serves as a kind of omen.

The civil war is portrayed not as tragically in the film as the Great Patriotic War is usually portrayed, although the invaders - the officers of the White Army - are as inventive in their evil as the german fascists.