The Very Same Munchhausen (1979)
A philosophical and poetic portrait of the famous (or maybe infamous?) Baron Munchhausen. His crazy, yet very merriment, stories, views and behavior is what sets him apart from others. He becomes alienated from the society that failed to grasp his brilliance. In fact, his brilliance is what underlines the faults with the society itself. It's a beautiful yet tragic story that is filled with dense and intellectual dialogue.
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This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
When one reads something about the movie or sees the title, the first reaction can be: "Why should they mess it all up with a classic hero, couldn't they invent anything new and use a new character for adventures? Isn't it plagiary?" Well, see the movie first and you'll probably change your first negative opinion.The film is a very charming satire. Satire on our society and on people's relations. It has great soundtrack and very intricate scenery. Any child has the right to watch it (absolutely no adult-oriented scenes) and suppose any child will adore it.A very solid Russian cinema product of the highest quality with lots of witty sayings and ridiculous happenings which often take a dramatic or even a tragic turn.10 out of 10. Thanks for attention.
Remembering that this movie was made in Soviet Union during the times, when you could still get to prison because of a joke, you naturally start wondering if the freedom of speech actually brought us something or robbed us of a real "finesse" of expression and metaphore. This is a powerful and corageous tale of a peculiar man in hypocritical society, that will not leave anyone unmoved. Even though the acting might appear static sometimes, Jankovsky is at his best in the main role and will save a hurried Western spectator the pain of sitting through the example of typical union of theatre and cinema in Russian style, and make it watchable not only for "european and rare" movie fricks. It also has a merit of being sort of a cult movie, and a good introduction to the culture that it presents indirectly, reflecting at the same time the ever-lasting russian struggle of saying things, so as to stay balancing on the edge, that will permit you to be understood by intelligent people, and still ignored by a watchful big brother(liable to tear you apart) and the fascination and identification with European history and culture - forbidden fruit at those times still.
What are true values? Can you be true to your principles under any circumstances? Are there romantics in this world yet? A bit crazy and totally free people? Few of those questions you'll ask yourself, on having watched it. Or without any questions just enjoy this masterpiece of Zakharov "the Great" :)
What is true? Reality? Imagination? Do we make choices in life to be like everyone else? Is it Worth it?