1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the stru... Read all1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.
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Kseniya Kutepova
- Lyubov Petrovna
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The Russian film Dylda was shown in the U.S. with the translated title Bean Pole (2019). It was co-written and directed by Kantemir Balagov
The movie is set in Leningrad right after World War II. Viktoria Miroshnichenko plays Iya, who has suffered brain damage in combat during the war. She has been discharged, and now works as a nurse or attendant at a hospital for wounded soldiers. (She is, indeed, a head taller than the other women, and very slender, so that's why she's called Bean Pole.)
She is joined at the hospital by her wartime friend, Masha, portrayed by Vasilisa Perelygina. Masha, who was also wounded, stayed in combat until the war ended. When we first see her, she's still wearing her army uniform.
The film was very grim, as it focused on the wounded men in the hospital, and the physical and emotional problems of the two women. I was surprised that there was very little anti-Stalinist material. In the movie, the government recognizes the sacrifices that the people have made, and appears to be doing its best to help. I don't know whether this reflects the reality of the time or not.
This is a complex film, because it portrays two very different women, each of whom has suffered terribly, and both of whom are trying to bring some normalcy into their lives.
As far as I can remember, there were only a few moments where anyone smiled in the movie. Those were hard times, and people were glum and depressed.
However, the film is so well constructed, and so well acted, that it's worth seeking out and watching. We saw Dylda at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. However, it should work well enough on the small screen. The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. I think it's even better than that.
The movie is set in Leningrad right after World War II. Viktoria Miroshnichenko plays Iya, who has suffered brain damage in combat during the war. She has been discharged, and now works as a nurse or attendant at a hospital for wounded soldiers. (She is, indeed, a head taller than the other women, and very slender, so that's why she's called Bean Pole.)
She is joined at the hospital by her wartime friend, Masha, portrayed by Vasilisa Perelygina. Masha, who was also wounded, stayed in combat until the war ended. When we first see her, she's still wearing her army uniform.
The film was very grim, as it focused on the wounded men in the hospital, and the physical and emotional problems of the two women. I was surprised that there was very little anti-Stalinist material. In the movie, the government recognizes the sacrifices that the people have made, and appears to be doing its best to help. I don't know whether this reflects the reality of the time or not.
This is a complex film, because it portrays two very different women, each of whom has suffered terribly, and both of whom are trying to bring some normalcy into their lives.
As far as I can remember, there were only a few moments where anyone smiled in the movie. Those were hard times, and people were glum and depressed.
However, the film is so well constructed, and so well acted, that it's worth seeking out and watching. We saw Dylda at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. However, it should work well enough on the small screen. The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. I think it's even better than that.
... and seared by the cold - this magnificently performed and beautifully filmed piece of cinema reveals the challenges faced by two young women in post war Leningrad. Damaged and psychologically disturbed by their experiences, shell shocked from the battles, real and imagined, battles they would never have aspired to fight some years earlier, while surrounded and enveloped by uncertainty, indignity, poverty and despair.
A fascinating slow burn that is as exhilarating as it is difficult at times to watch.
"Beanpole" is actually a good movie to be watching during the 2020 COVID pandemic, as it's a reminder to a whole population of people who've never experienced any significant hardship how much worse things could be. Watch a movie about post WWII Russia and then ask yourself how big a deal it is that Trader Joe's was out of your favorite brand of crackers again.
The towering actress Viktoria Miroshnichenko, as the film's title character, and Vasilisa Perelygina, as her friend who's recently returned from the front, give amazing performances navigating exceptionally difficult material. This is one of those movies that would be off putting if the direction and acting didn't strike just the right tone. It's one of those movies about which people say "I didn't like any of the characters" as a way to dismiss the whole thing. But, like the best character studies, "Beanpole" doesn't care whether or not you like anyone in it. It instead asks you to live with the characters for awhile and see if you can empathize with them, and understand their choices based on the circumstances in which they find themselves.
And, directing and acting aside, the film looks beautiful. For a film set in such a drab time and setting, it uses saturated colors, especially green and red, to tie images visually to the mental states of the characters.
The movie year still has a way to go, but I imagine this one will make my own personal shortlist of favorites.
Grade: A
"Beanpole" is actually a good movie to be watching during the 2020 COVID pandemic, as it's a reminder to a whole population of people who've never experienced any significant hardship how much worse things could be. Watch a movie about post WWII Russia and then ask yourself how big a deal it is that Trader Joe's was out of your favorite brand of crackers again.
The towering actress Viktoria Miroshnichenko, as the film's title character, and Vasilisa Perelygina, as her friend who's recently returned from the front, give amazing performances navigating exceptionally difficult material. This is one of those movies that would be off putting if the direction and acting didn't strike just the right tone. It's one of those movies about which people say "I didn't like any of the characters" as a way to dismiss the whole thing. But, like the best character studies, "Beanpole" doesn't care whether or not you like anyone in it. It instead asks you to live with the characters for awhile and see if you can empathize with them, and understand their choices based on the circumstances in which they find themselves.
And, directing and acting aside, the film looks beautiful. For a film set in such a drab time and setting, it uses saturated colors, especially green and red, to tie images visually to the mental states of the characters.
The movie year still has a way to go, but I imagine this one will make my own personal shortlist of favorites.
Grade: A
Leningrad, 1945. In the aftermath of World War II, within the remaining ruins, two young women, Iya and Masha, try to give a purpose to their meaningless lives. They met at the front during this endless war but they stayed in touch, probably because they felt alone and were desperately disillusioned. They now live in the present, without any perspective for their future that they do not even try to consider. The complete disarray!
Beanpole (2019) is darkly sad, with an extremely but deliberately slow pace. If you are depressed before you even consider this movie, you should probably envisage another viewing. Otherwise, this film is breathtakingly beautiful and is excellently filmed. Moreover, the gorgeous actresses Viktoria Miroshnichenko (Iya) and Kseniya Kutepova (Lyubov Petrovna) shine despite a voluntarily sober play.
As a synthesis: 7/8 of 10
Beanpole (2019) is darkly sad, with an extremely but deliberately slow pace. If you are depressed before you even consider this movie, you should probably envisage another viewing. Otherwise, this film is breathtakingly beautiful and is excellently filmed. Moreover, the gorgeous actresses Viktoria Miroshnichenko (Iya) and Kseniya Kutepova (Lyubov Petrovna) shine despite a voluntarily sober play.
As a synthesis: 7/8 of 10
A heavy film, the title does not reflect all the hardship of the war, the incessant search of the two women for survival and personal fulfillment in a sexist and cruel era, deranged by the post-war hunger, and allied to all this drama, the Tall Woman suffers from freezing post concussion and hysterectomy Masha, which makes it incomplete after the loss of the child (which I could swear it was no accident), warm colors, contrasting with the coldness of the war, exceptional drama, intelligent and original script...
Did you know
- TriviaKantemir Balagov's main source of inspiration was Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich's book "War Does Not Have a Woman's Face", written in 1983.
- Quotes
Nikolay Ivanovich: Where would he have seen a dog? They've all been eaten.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Evening Urgant: Iowa (2019)
- How long is Beanpole?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Дилда
- Filming locations
- Saint Petersburg, Russia(setting of the action)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $196,258
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $10,008
- Feb 2, 2020
- Gross worldwide
- $1,591,621
- Runtime
- 2h 10m(130 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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