Siberia, Monamour (2011)

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I lived in Siberia between 1963 and 1973 and I can testify that the film is as true to the reality of life there as it gets.

Without a doubt one of a best Russian movie I have seen till date and one of a best among 2011 world movies. It tells the story of cruel Siberian natural environment and those men who are depending on it. Specially it deals between the good versus the bad, even some animals are in crucial part of this beautiful tale.This movie distinguishes between the man, the animal and the nature. These three are the main ingredients of the story and the movie explains how they are related in this one world which they share for theirs survival by facing and defending each others all the time. The one who gain victory will be profitable for their survival and future. Of course it was concentrated more on human perspective which tells how the humans created borders within themselves by ethic, race, nationalism and all, who had to fight themselves others than the beasts and harsh mother nature.This movie gives more meaning than what it was made of just like some modern art. If you had a vision you will get it just like an poet. The places where the movie was shot were amazing and breathtaking just like what I have seen in the other Russian movie 'Kray'. Camera work was good, a fine photography, it was the artistic capture of beautiful Siberia.

It's lovely movie,Siberia. Late autumn. In taiga.In the deserted village there lives an old man Ivan & his seven-year-old grandson Leshia. A pack of feral dogs devours everything alive in the neighborhood. One of these dogs is Leshia's best friend. Sometimes their relative uncle Yuri brings food to them. Once on his way back from Ivan's village uncle Yuri is attacked by dogs & perishes. Ivan & Leshia stay without supply. Once Leshia witnesses Ivan shooting at 'his' dog & runs away. The old Man finds him in a dry well, but he fails to get him out on his own. Ivan sets out through taiga in search of help. Now the dogs are hunting him... And the boy is waiting for his father...

With this complex story about human nature, Slava Ross made exceptional debut as a director. She put back on track Russian cinema, that in past few years lost some of the values with failed blockbusters, historical epics and unnecessary sequels (some of them made even by Mikhalkov).Alongside with Vozvraschenie, this is another character study that deals with hard life of individuals living in remote area. It creates a parallel between humans and animals, compassion and cruelty, living and surviving.The story is breathtaking, very well written and directed. Cinematography is stunning: it shows in its perfection the main character of the story - nature. Beautiful, distant, unpredictable, frightening and never-ending space... which controls actions of every other character. Their inner nature and emotions gets changed towards each other depending on circumstances. However, they are connected in a battle against the wilderness of the nature, but divided by a way of surviving.Do not miss this modern Russian masterpiece which shows a circle of life with one different point of view.