If I knew anything in Russian besides "spasibo," I'd put it here.

[icepixie]

Oof. We just got done watching The Irony of Fate, or: Enjoy Your Bath!, which is apparently a hugely popular romantic comedy that is shown every New Year's Eve in Russia. Despite what sleepingcbw may try to tell you, it is in fact exactly like a Nora Ephron movie, except Russian. So you have a cute, destined-to-be-together couple who don't like each other much at first, then they realize they actually do like each other, and unceremoniously (that word was used a lot in the subtitles) dump the fiances who are standing in the way so they can be together. And you also have them singing songs about how, if you have no house, no one can burn it down. If you don't have a dog, no one can poison it. If you don't have a wife, she can't leave you. If you don't have friends, they can't beat you up.

The fact that this was a popular song in Russia before they used it in the movie speaks volumes, I think, about the Russian attitude toward life.

And of course, it can't be Russian without more than half the characters being drunk more than half the time, so I think roughly five or six bottles of alcohol, mostly vodka, were consumed between...six people? Maybe less?

Another difference between this and [insert Nora Ephron movie here] is the length. Three hours, this was. We were all kind of zombieish by the end. So were the characters, actually, since they'd been up all night ringing doorbells and getting drunk and singing depressing songs. (There was another about a guy who asked various inanimate objects where his wife had gone and got no answer, until he asked...uh...I don't remember...it may have been another guy...anyway, the response was essentially, "She's my wife now. Sucks to be you!")

You know, I think the message behind a lot of Russian songs and literature can be boiled down to "sucks to be you."

And with that, I'm going to bed.

Comments

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

Dude.

It made "You need to drink less!" a catchphrase in Russia. (Along with "I never drink!" "Such hooliganism!" "You're an incredible dunderhead!" and "Iron-clad logic!") It features drunk people going door-to-door with accordions, Tsar Ivan the Terrible taking a shower wearing an overcoat and shapka, an architect who honks at dancing buildings, and blatant political commentary.

So -- no, the plot isn't difficult or brilliant, but if you think that makes it equivalent to a Nora Ephron movie, I think you might've missed the point.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

You keep on fighting the good fight, Starik.

[icepixie]

Dude.

I said, "like a Nora Ephron movie, except Russian." All the things you listed fall under the category of "except Russian." My point still stands.

:P

(Keeping in mind that, in general, I like Nora Ephron movies, so what would be a criticism coming from you is actually a compliment coming from me...)

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

All the things you listed fall under the category of "except Russian."

Well... actually, no. "Russian" does not imply "absurdist" or "unique" or "involving drunk people taking showers in winter clothing." If you think it does, you have some misguided (if complimentary) ideas about Russian cinema, and you should go see Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears in order to remedy them.


(Keeping in mind that, in general, I like Nora Ephron movies, so what would be a criticism coming from you is actually a compliment coming from me...)

No, no, see, that's not criticism coming from me. That's a major insult coming from me.

[icepixie]

Well... actually, no. "Russian" does not imply "absurdist" or "unique" or "involving drunk people taking showers in winter clothing."

I can't think of anything else that would imply "involving drunk people taking showers in winter clothing." I'll give you the other two.

No, no, see, that's not criticism coming from me. That's a major insult coming from me.

You have a Meg Ryan-shaped hole in your heart.

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

I can't think of anything else that would imply "involving drunk people taking showers in winter clothing." I'll give you the other two.

Smurfs.


You have a Meg Ryan-shaped hole in your heart.

Meg Ryan has a sense-shaped hole in her acting ability.

[icepixie]

Smurfs.

I didn't think Smurfs had winter clothing.

Meg Ryan has a sense-shaped hole in her acting ability.

:( But she's so cute! She's not the best, but she's decent...

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

I didn't think Smurfs had winter clothing.

Christmas episode, yo.

Goodness makes the badness go away!


But she's so cute!

She always looks angry, to me. Like she's about to transform into Mecha-Meg and destroy whole cities with her laser-vision. But instead she acts fluffy. It's kind of like being trapped in the mind of a very-well-tamed poodle.

[icepixie]

She always looks angry, to me. Like she's about to transform into Mecha-Meg and destroy whole cities with her laser-vision.

I think the problem might be that you just don't understand "cute.'

But instead she acts fluffy. It's kind of like being trapped in the mind of a very-well-tamed poodle.

Heh.

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

I think the problem might be that you just don't understand "cute.'

No, but I understand "trapped in the mind of a very well-tamed poodle." For instance, http://www.infinitecat.com/movies/shii.html. ^_^

[icepixie]

For instance, http://www.infinitecat.com/movies/shii.html.

That's..horrifying. I was expecting some gore and kitty guts at the end to make up for the saccharine of the rest of it. I....meh?

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

I used to have a program that let you throw animated hand grenades at your screen. Would've been useful. I wonder what happened to it...

[serendipityxxi.livejournal.com]

*SNORT* Now there's a movie! LOL

[icepixie]

Indeed. :)