Dear readers and subscribers, I am thrilled to present three remarkable Russian movies that will be a splendid addition to your holiday collection. The first is the delightful comedy ” Carnival Night,” directed by Eldar Ryazanov, offering an evening filled with laughter, joy, and romance. Next on the list is the iconic “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!” also directed by Ryazanov, which has become a beloved part of Russian New Year’s traditions. Lastly, we have the Academy Award-winning masterpiece “Moscow does not believe in tears,” directed by Vladimir Menshov, exploring the lives of three women in 1950s Moscow. All of them have subtitles for an easier understanding. Following are a few words about the movies and their plots.
I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did.
- About “Carnival Night“
- The plot of “Carnival Night”
- Watch Carnival Night (English subtitles)
- About “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath”
- The plot of “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath”
- Watch “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath” (French and English subtitles)
- About “Moscow does not believe in tears”
- The plot of “Moscow does not believe in tears”
- Watch “Moscow does not believe in tears” (French and English subtitles)
About Carnival Night
A movie I love but could find only with English subtitles is Carnival Night. This is is a beloved Soviet comedy musical film that was released in 1956. Directed by Eldar Ryazanov, this movie marked his first independent feature film on the big screen. It also showcased the incredible talent of Lyudmila Gurchenko, who played her second role in this film after her debut in “The Road of Truth.”
“Carnival Night” gained immense popularity and became the top-grossing Soviet film in 1956, with a remarkable total of 48.64 million tickets sold. This humorous and musical masterpiece continues to enchant audiences with its timeless charm.
The plot of “Carnival Night”
The workers at the House of Culture were busy preparing for the annual New Year’s costume ball. They were excited to put together an entertainment program that would bring lots of fun and joy. The lineup included amazing solo performances, captivating dance routines, thrilling circus acts, and the enchanting melodies of a jazz orchestra. A magician was also going to perform mind-bending tricks, and clowns would add laughter and happiness to the event.
However, when the acting director, Serafim Ivanovich Ogurtsov, reviewed the program, he didn’t like it. He wanted to make the event more serious and bureaucratic. He suggested having speeches from a speaker and a lecturer, who happened to be an astronomer. Ogurtsov also wanted to limit the music to classical pieces and have elderly musicians from the song and dance ensemble perform.
The workers didn’t want to change their original program. They couldn’t imagine replacing the joyful celebration with a boring one. So, they used clever tricks to distract and confuse Ogurtsov, and they joined together to stop his plans.
Despite the challenges, the workers managed to perform their program as planned. Each performance was a defiance against Ogurtsov’s ideas. They celebrated the arrival of the New Year in 1957 with joy and unity, just like they had planned in the first place.
Watch the movie “Carnival Night” (English subtitles)
About Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath!
“Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath!” is a two-part television film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. It was created in 1975 and was first shown in the Soviet Union on January 1, 1976, under the “First Central Television Program”. The film gained immense popularity and the audience of the first show is estimated to be around 100 million viewers. Due to popular demand, it was repeated on February 7.
The film continued to captivate audiences and, according to Fyodor Razzakov, by 1978, it had been watched on TV by approximately 250 million people. Additionally, a shortened version of the film was screened in cinemas, where it attracted an audience of about 7 million viewers.
The success of “Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath!” did not go unrecognized. In 1977, it was awarded the prestigious USSR State Prize, further solidifying its significance in Soviet cinema.
One remarkable tradition associated with the film is its annual television broadcast on December 31. This tradition has prevailed throughout the years, making it a beloved part of New Year’s celebrations for many.
The plot of “Irony of Fate“
Episode 1
In Moscow, Pavel goes to invite his childhood friend Zhenya to the traditional New Year’s Eve gathering at the bathhouse. Zhenya, a surgeon, lives with his mother and plans to propose to his fiancée, Galya. However, he accidentally reveals his past proposal to another woman and gives Galya the keys to his Moscow apartment to prove his commitment.
Though Pavel fails to talk to him, Zhenya still goes to the bathhouse and meets two other friends, Sasha and Misha. They find out, then celebrate Zhenya’s upcoming marriage drinking heavily, then head to the airport to bid farewell to Pavel, who is flying to Leningrad to visit his wife.
While drunk, they accidentally put Zhenya on the plane, thinking his bride is waiting for him in Leningrad. Zhenya wakes up in Leningrad, thinking he is in Moscow, and unknowingly enters the wrong apartment. The owner, Nadya, tries to wake him, but Zhenya believes it is his own apartment.
Nadya’s fiancé, Ippolit, arrives and becomes jealous. Zhenya leaves but when realizing he lacks the funds for a return ticket to Moscow returns to ask Nadya for a loan. He calls Galya and attempts to explain his situation, but she hangs up upon hearing Leningrad mentioned.
Zhenya and Nadya celebrate the New Year together while Ippolit drives through the icy streets of Leningrad, intertwining their fates on this eventful night.
Episode 2
Zhenya and Nadya start to like each other. Ippolit apologizes to Nadya for being jealous. Then, Ippolit catches Zhenya at his fiancée’s place again, and they fight. Nadya kicks both men out. Zhenya cleverly finds a way to return and Nadya invites him to stay.
Zhenya becomes more confident. He throws Ippolit’s picture out the window and says he doesn’t want to rush back home. Nadya takes him to the train station and buys him a ticket back to Moscow, but Zhenya throws the ticket out the window and tears up the picture.
Later, a drunk Ippolit comes to the apartment. Nadya realizes she can’t have a future with Zhenya considering their New Year’s Eve ordeal as nothing more than a delusion. Zhenya goes back to Moscow and tells his mother that he doesn’t want to get back with his beloved.
Zhenya falls asleep in his own apartment. Nadya comes to visit him in Moscow, bringing his forgotten briefcase. She sits next to him while he sleeps. When Zhenya wakes up, he sees Nadya and they realize their strong connection. They decide to stay together forever.
Watch the movie “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath”
(French and English subtitles)
About “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears”
“Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears” is a renowned Soviet melodramatic film directed by Vladimir Menshov. It was released in the USSR at the end of 1979, with the premiere taking place at the Moscow Zvezdny cinema. The film garnered immense popularity, attracting approximately 90 million viewers during its run.
The international recognition for this masterpiece came in 1981 when it won the Academy Award for “Best Foreign Language Film.” Alongside this prestigious accolade, “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears” also received the USSR State Prize. The grand world premiere of the film took place on February 11, 1980, captivating audiences with its compelling storyline and brilliant execution.
The plot of “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears”
In this captivating story set in Moscow in 1958, we follow the intertwined destinies of three friends from the provinces. Katerina, a hardworking woman, works at a machine-building plant. Antonina, shy and simple, finds happiness in her marriage and works as a painter. Lyudmila dreams of marrying a high-status Muscovite and works at a bakery. Katerina falls in love with a handsome cameraman, Rodion, but he leaves her when he learns about her background and job.
Twenty years later, Antonina is happily married with three sons, Lyudmila works at a dry cleaners after divorcing Sergei, and Katerina is successful professionally but longs for a complete family.
Katerina meets Gosha, a mechanic, and falls in love with him, but faces the challenge of revealing her social status to him. Rodion reenters Katerina’s life and creates a rift between her and Gosha, who disappears. However, Antonina’s husband, Nikolai, takes it upon himself to find Gosha and eventually found him then convinces him to return to Katerina. They reconcile and share a heartfelt dinner together, expressing their longing for each other.
This story beautifully depicts the complexities of love, personal ambitions, and social differences against the backdrop of 1950s Moscow.
Watch the movie “Moscow does not believe in tears”
(French and English subtitles)
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