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Burnt By The Sun
1994
The year is 1936 and Colonel Kotov, his wife Maroussia and their young daughter Nadia are leading a happy life in their country home. That is, until Dimitri, a man on an evil mission, enters their lives. Read more
| Starring | Nikita Mikhalkov, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Oleg Menchikov |
|---|---|
| Director | Nikita Mikhalkov |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Burnt By The Sun
The year is 1936 and Colonel Kotov, his wife Maroussia and their young daughter Nadia are leading a happy life in their country home. That is, until Dimitri, a man on an evil mission, enters their lives.
| Starring | Nikita Mikhalkov, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Oleg Menchikov |
|---|---|
| Director | Nikita Mikhalkov |
| Studio | SECOND SIGHT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 9 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Russian |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 10 Mar 2008 Production year: 1994 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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This period drama from director Nikita Mikhalkov plunges into the heart of darkness that was Stalin's Russia in the mid-1930s. Mikhalkov also stars as Kotov, a complacent military hero of the Soviet Revolution, whose country house is visited unexpectedly by his young wife's former childhood sweetheart, Dmitrii. Against the backdrop of a lazy summer's day, the truth behind Stalin's rule and the reason for Dmitrii's visit become apparent as Kotov entertains his guest. Winner of the Oscar for best foreign film, this masterpiece of visual audacity — the vast balloon displaying an image of Stalin is a highlight — depicts, with vivid candour, a nation's paranoia grievously turned in upon itself.
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Complex and tragic, at times almost Chekhovian, evocation of an ambiguous time, of unthinking brutality darkening a summer landscape.
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Most helpful member's review
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33 out of 33 people found this review helpful
Tough! Beautiful! Horrendous!
This is a truly excellent film! But really quite tough to take. I saw it on a Friday night before I was supposed to go out. I went home instead, feeling like I had been turned inside out emotionally.
Set in the beautiful countryside it sets out the idyllic picture of a happy family. The father is retired from a long and faithful career in the military. Their happiness is disturbed by Stalin's crazy persecutions and family betrayal. In this Kafka'esk world everything will be used against you and guilt has no relevance.
It was the mixture of such joy/happiness/colours and the very grim 'reality' that got to me. One of the strongest films I have ever seen, I would strongly recommend it. Just don't plan for festivities straight afterwards. -
Most recent members' review
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Beautiful, subtle, Damning
Watch this movie and realise what we were missing all those decades when Russian movies were not available in the west. Nikita Mikhalkov dominates this movie. He writes, directs and acts superbly. The other characters, even the minor ones, are full, breathing people. The evocation of the time is genuine, with the tragi-comic military manouvres, the totally over-the-top Stalin worship and the holiday camp civil defence exercises and the dull psychopaths of the NKVD. The scenery is gorgeous and entrancing. But its the family dynamics and the interplay between Mitya (Oleg Menshikov) and Kotov (Mikhalkov) that draws you along to the climactic denouement. Marusia, Kotovs wife and Nadya, Kotovs daughter are also winningly played.
This is a shocking, unnerving and absolutely effective film that deserves viewing by a wide audience. I will be buying the DVD. -
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Burnt By The Sun
The year is 1936 and Colonel Kotov, his wife Maroussia and their young daughter Nadia are leading a happy life in their country home. That is, until Dimitri, a man on an evil mission, enters their lives....
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