Having seen Ilya Khrzhanovsky debut film movie had the Rotterdam film festival, made me understand what Russia's cinematic potential is. Khrjanovsky's 4 is definitely a must see for every admirer of Russian cinema and the Russian spirit.
4 was banned or censored in Russia because of its controversial and power-undermining nature towards Russia's political decision makers. The movie is based on a script by Vladimir Sorokin, who is known to be a radical writer who has challenged numerous taboos in Russian culture.
4 follows the story in several episodes of 3 different people in Moscow. Because of their absurdity, these episodes are as much realistic as they are unimaginable. The opening of the film sets the whole atmosphere, introducing three characters who happen to meet in an anonymous bar. In the long bar scene, the viewer gets the chance to learn the intriguing and controversial details of their lives.
The bars scene is Khrzhanovsk's introduction to the question: "what is to believe and what is not?". Throughout the movie the viewer gets the chance to puzzle the pieces and to make his/ her judgment.
I most definitely enjoyed watching 4 and thought it was one of the best (if not THE best) movies of 2004. Ilya Khrzhanovsk's 4 won several prices in Rotterdam, tough be careful; this movie is not for meant for the average (Hollywood) movie goer .
9/10
4 was banned or censored in Russia because of its controversial and power-undermining nature towards Russia's political decision makers. The movie is based on a script by Vladimir Sorokin, who is known to be a radical writer who has challenged numerous taboos in Russian culture.
4 follows the story in several episodes of 3 different people in Moscow. Because of their absurdity, these episodes are as much realistic as they are unimaginable. The opening of the film sets the whole atmosphere, introducing three characters who happen to meet in an anonymous bar. In the long bar scene, the viewer gets the chance to learn the intriguing and controversial details of their lives.
The bars scene is Khrzhanovsk's introduction to the question: "what is to believe and what is not?". Throughout the movie the viewer gets the chance to puzzle the pieces and to make his/ her judgment.
I most definitely enjoyed watching 4 and thought it was one of the best (if not THE best) movies of 2004. Ilya Khrzhanovsk's 4 won several prices in Rotterdam, tough be careful; this movie is not for meant for the average (Hollywood) movie goer .
9/10