One day I was curious as to what kind of entertainment I could find from somewhere besides the normal modes of media we are all spoon fed each day here in America. So I decided to pick my friend from Russia’s brain for some good old fashioned soviet entertainment. What he showed me was amazing. I was introduced to the quintessential Monty Python of Russia. There is a set of movies done by Director Leonid Gaidai in Russia that all involve similar characters and actors in slap-stick comedies. The most famous of his movies was “Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future” which was filmed back in 1973. Its about a scientist who created a time machine that takes him back to the reign of Ivan the Terrible, a Russian czar from the 1500′s. The funniest part of the movie to me is in the first 5 seconds of the film. See for yourself:
Another great film from Leonid Gaidai is “Operation Y & Shurik’s Other Adventures.” This movie is a feature length film made up of 3 short films. All involve the funny and lovable character, Shurik, a young Russian man with a Euro hair and glasses. The best of the 3 shorts is the 2nd short: “Strange Impression.” This short film involves Shurik as a student cramming to study for his final exam. You know when your concentrating so hard at doing something that all other activity around you is drowned out? Well that is what happens to Shurik while studying which takes him on an adventure he isn’t even aware of. During that adventure he spends time with another student who is studying, a girl, without even realizing where he is going or who he is with since he is so immersed in the book he is studying. The girl student he studies with also suffers from the same dilemma. After the exam they meet each other for the first time (again) and a series of deja vu moments ensue. This is available on YouTube to a techno soundtrack without words, but it actually is still fun to watch because most of the comedy is visual anyways.
You can also watch the entire film (all 3 shorts) with subtitles here:
February 17, 2013 at 10:57 am
Yay! I’ve gotten so much enjoyment from Bollywood, I’m ready to be amazed by Russia next. Thanks for an enlightening post.
February 17, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Wow … can I hit “like” again ? The first one was funny; the second one hilarious. I have not had time to watch the third yet. It does help that I still recognize some of the words (it has been 37 years since I took any Russian, so only some), but you are correct, I think: the humor does not require one to understand the language.
Heh … glad I was not a student in the Soviet Union. Looks like being a student was *tough* !