Fantastic!

A Brilliant Conflict

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

This film portrays an interesting slice of Soviet history, showing the shock of the French wife when she has to live in the poor-quality housing most Soviets had to put up with in the postwar era, the strains placed on her marriage, and her loyalty to her husband and to the hope of freedom.I watched this film on a VHS tape from Russia. The textual introduction, most dialogue, and the afterword were all in Russian; there were no subtitles except when the French characters spoke French with each other, and then the subtitles were in Russian. I know only a small amount of Russian and the sound quality of the videotape made the French difficult to hear, yet I could follow what was happening perfectly.

Est-Ouest (1999): Dir: Regis Wargnier / Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Catherine Deneuve, Oleg Menshikov, Sergie Bodrov Jr., Tatyana Dogileva: Interesting look into freedom and hope while examining history. It regards boundaries and isolation. A doctor and his wife are on board a steamship heading for the Odessa but once on shore they are met with soldiers. While some are executed the doctor and his family are sent to a crowded apartment where his skills are put to work. Their marriage slowly deteriorates as she makes plans to escape with her son and sees opportunity with a young swimmer. Engaging until it reaches its poorly handled conclusion that threatens to sabotage what led up to it. Well directed by Regis Wargnier with terrific production and photography that compliments the film's period atmosphere. Sandrine Bonnaire portrays a woman who submitted long enough. Now she seeks freedom and despite torture and trials she is determined to survive. Oleg Menshikov plays her husband who surrenders and uses his skill to protect his family but also makes a sacrifice of his own. Catherine Deneuve plays a French actress whom Bonnaire contacts while she is on tour. Sergie Bodrov plays the swimmer whom becomes her hope for freedom as he undertakes a daring swim. Strong theme regarding hope and persistence during a nightmarish time in history. Score: 8 / 10

Alexei, the young doctor who decides to go back to the Soviet Union after a generous invitation of Josef Satlin, should have had his head examined! After all, as a professional he seemed to have been doing well in France. With all the best intentions, he takes his wife and young son to the old country only to find himself trapped in a totalitarian system that made him and the family virtual prisoners."Est Ouest", directed by Regis Wargnier, shows in vivid detail what Alexei and Marie, his wife, have to endure when they are taken to Kiev, where he is assigned. Little did Alexei and Marie knew about the dismal housing problems of those years when the family is given a large room in an apartment that is being shared by five families!The film concentrates in the eventual break down of the marriage caused by the environment. Alexei ends up having an affair with Olga, another flat mate, and Marie falls in love for the poor Sacha, a young man who is left alone in the world when his grandmother dies. Marie blames Alexei for all the misery they have to endure; she is regarded as a foreigner, but she can't even go back to her native France.The film has an ironic end when Marie, helped by Gabrielle, a French actress, who is sympathetic to her fellow countryman. Marie realizes at the end of Alexei's tremendous sacrifice and ultimate punishment when she and her son are able to escape the communist hell that has imprisoned them.Great acting in general by Sandrine Bonnaire, who as Marie, is totally credible. Oleg Menshikov, makes the best of Alexei, at times appearing uncaring and selfish, but who deeply cared for his wife. Sergei Bodrov Jr. is also excellent as Sacha, the young boy in love with Marie.The film was shot in drab color, perhaps to emphasize the hard times during the Stalin regime. One gets only glimpses of some of the splendid, and opulent interiors, whenever the action takes place in one of those buildings or theaters. Unfortunately, the principals of this story never really had a chance to enjoy anything because the nightmare that became their lives under that totalitarian regime.

This unflinching look at the former Soviet Union just after WWII should be seen by all those who might still harbor some romantic feelings for the communist past. There is an almost Orwellian atmosphere to the film, which is supposedly a true story of a group of Russsian émigrés living in France who are invited to return to the USSR to help rebuild the war torn country. As soon as these ostensibly Russian patriots disembark on Soviet soil they are hurled into the madhouse world of Stalinist Russia. The similarity to the Nazis as families are separated, manhandled and killed is obvious and terrifying. The rest of the movie is concerned with the survivors' attempt at escape. The acting is first rate and the mise en scene on the button. This a truly harrowing and credible film, all the more so for being a French production. See it and tell some of your far leftist friends to see it as well.