Komrades (2003)

5 лет заняло у канадского режиссера Стива Коккера исследование темы гомосексуализма в российской армии. Фильм основан на интервью, которые он брал у солдат и моряков в Санкт-Петербурге. Первого парня он встретил около крупнейшего военно-морского училища, и он согласился встретиться с режиссером вечером. И так солдат за солдатом, матрос за матросом - выстраивается картина жизни в российской армии. Некоторые курсанты лежат обнаженные на постели Коккера и общаются с ним в таком виде. Многие из них напоминают моделей студии BelAmi... Некоторые откровенны изначально, а некоторые раскрываются только под воздействием алкоголя.... В общем, фильм просто бесценен для любителей парней в форме.

It took 5 years for Canadian director Steve Cokker to make a research about homosexuality in Russian army. The film is based on his interviews with soldiers and sailors in St. Petersburg. The first guy he met was from largest Naval Academy, and he agreed to meet with him one evening. He shared what it is like and how soldiers get intimate with another soldier, a sailor with another sailor. In his hotel he met some other boys who are at ease being naked in his bed whilst telling their stories. Some of them have to be under the influence of alcohol for them to share their true experiences. Shooting the film is almost having the same experience as if you are in a Belami studio. In general, the film is simply priceless for fans of guys in uniform.




A documentary worth seeing... sometimes you'll laugh... at times you'll feel so bad.

Apo Tin Akri Tis Polis - Από την άκρη της πόλης (1998)

Ο δεκαοκτάχρονος Σάσα και οι μικρότεροι σε ηλικία φίλοι του Κοτσιάν και Παναγιώτης βρίσκονται στο επίκεντρο μιας παρέας ρωσοπόντιων μεταναστών από το Καζακστάν, που ζουν στο Μενίδι και ονειρεύονται να κατακτήσουν τον κόσμο. Ο Σάσα βρίσκεται σε διαρκή σύγκρουση με τον πατέρα του, σταματά τη δουλειά σε οικοδομή που απεχθάνεται και σπρώχνει τον Παναγιώτη στην αγκαλιά ενός πλούσιου νεαρού ομοφυλόφιλου, του Νίκου. Όταν ένας σωματέμπορος, ο Γιώργος, του ζητάει να φυλάξει την πόρνη Νατάσα ώσπου να βρει να την πουλήσει, αυτός την ερωτεύεται και την πηγαίνει σπίτι του. Ο πατέρας του όμως τους πετάει χωρίς δισταγμό στο δρόμο. Στο μεταξύ, ένας φίλος του πεθαίνει από νοθευμένη ηρωίνη αλλά και ο Παναγιώτης θα έχει την ίδια τύχη, καθώς προσπαθεί να δραπετεύσει από το διαμέρισμα του Νίκου, όπου έχει μπει για να κλέψει. Ο Σάσα ζητάει από τον Κοτσιάν να τους βοηθήσει να φύγουν από την πόλη αλλά εκείνος αναγκάζεται να τον προδώσει στον Γιώργο. Στη συμπλοκή που ακολουθεί, ο Σάσα σκοτώνει τον Γιώργο και συλλαμβάνεται απ’ την αστυνομία, ενώ η Νατάσα ακολουθεί τη δικιά της μοίρα.

Barely eighteen years old Sasha (Stathis Papadopoulos) and his childhood friends Kotsian and Pangiotis are the central characters of this film about Greek-Russian immigrants from Kazakhstan. Now living in Menidi, a poor neighbourhood on the western outskirts of Athens, they try hard to fit in as they dream of conquering the world. Sasha is always in conflict with his father, suddenly decides to stop working in the construction site and bullies Pangiotis about his relationship with a rich young gay Nikos. Aware that he is jobless, Giorgos, a blackmailing pimp asks him to look after Natasha, a Russian prostitute, until he finds her the rightful buyer. Instead, he falls for her, escapes with her and returns home. When his father sees Natasha, he asks them to leave the house immediately without hesitation. Simultaneously, another friend is dying of tainted heroin and Pangiotis meets the same fate when he tries to steal from Nikos’ apartment. After being thrown away, Sasha then asks Kotsian to help them leave the city but Kotsian betrays him in favour of Giorgos. In a fight that follows, Sasha kills Giorgos… he gets arrested whilst Natasha follows her own destiny.

(In GREEK with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Hitlerjunge Salomon (1990)

Salomon Perel (Marco Hofschneider), oder Sally, wie ihn seine Freunde nennen, verlebt eine glückliche Kindheit. Doch diese bricht ganz unverhofft zusammen, als er eines Tages zum Direktor seiner Schule bestellt wird, der ihm einen Zettel in die Hand drückt und sagt: „Und jetzt raus. Juden haben an unserer Schule nichts mehr zu suchen„. Seine abenteuerliche Odyssee führt ihn zunächst in das polnische Lodz, wo er in den Wirren der Besetzung von seiner Familie getrennt wird. Alleine schlägt sich Sally nach Russland durch, wo er von einer deutschen Patrouille aufgegriffen wird. Geistesgegenwärtig rettet er sich mit der Behauptung ein von den Bolschewicken verschleppter „Volksdeutscher„ zu sein vor dem sicheren Tod. Unter dem Namen Joseph Periel tritt er in den Dienst der Wehrmacht ein, wo er schon bald zum Günstling der Vorgesetzten und Musterschüler der Hitlerjugend-Akademie wird. Bis zum Kriegsende hält er das Versteckspiel durch.

Salomon Perel (Marco Hofschneider), or Sally, as his friends call him, has a happy childhood but this overturns quite unexpectedly, when his schooled director hands him a note pressing hard to his palms and saying, "Out you go... there’s no place for Jews in this institution!” His adventurous Odyssey leads him at first in the Polish Lodz where he is separated from his family out of the confusion of the occupation. All alone, Sally fights through to Russia where he is taken up by a German patrol. With his wit, he alertly escapes death row with the assertion that he is a pure German bred kidnapped by the Bolsheviks. Under the name Joseph Periel he enters into the service of the armed forces where he soon becomes an instant favourite of the superiors and a model student of Hitler Youth Academy. Until the end of the war and his own battle, he only wishes that his true identity remains hidden.

Based on a true story, HITLERJUNGE SALOMON or better known as EUROPA EUROPA is a story of luck, wit and survival. Having outlived the web of obstacles and its consequences, it’s a genuine miracle that the lead character breathes the air longer than life. Brilliantly directed and acted, no doubt the film gained high acclaim and recognition internationally contrary to the reception received from its own soil... but I certainly understand. A MUST SEE!

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Les Poupées Russes (2005)

Xavier (Romain Duris) a 30 ans. Il a réalisé son rêve d'enfance, il est devenu écrivain, mais il semble quand même un peu perdu. Il a quelques problèmes avec sa banquière. Il a également des réticences à se fixer avec une fille et enchaîne les aventures amoureuses avec inconséquence. Xavier est contraint de continuer son travail à Londres, puis à Saint-Pétersbourg. Ces nouveaux voyages lui permettront peut-être de réconcilier le travail, l'amour et l'écriture.

At almost 30, Xavier (Romain Duris) has achieved his childhood dream of being a writer but somehow he seems still a little lost. He is having problems with his banker... he is also reluctant to settle with one woman and continues his adventures in love which in turn is always full of inconsistencies. Due to inevitable circumstances, Xavier is forced to continue his work in London... then to St. Petersburg. His recent travels may probably help reconcile his work, love and writing.

Amongst sequels, LES POUPÉES RUSSES (THE RUSSIAN DOLLS, its literal English title) is well-written and directed that it succesfully maintained the coolness if not better “L’Auberge Espagnole.” Again, I enjoyed the film a lot because it has more meaning that can inspire those who are having the same dilemma when they are almost in the same age as Xavier. Aside from that, you’ll be treated to great acting by practically all the members of the cast plus you’d be able to see three beautiful European cities – Paris, London and St Petersburg.

(In FRENCH and ENGLISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Otets i Syn - Отец и сын (2003)

На верхнем этаже под самой крышей старого дома живет маленькая семья - отец и сын. После смерти матери они много лет прожили вместе в своем закрытом мире, полном воспоминаний. Иногда он походит на убежище, иногда на тюрьму. Иногда его обитатели кажутся братьями, иногда любовниками. Отец не представляет жизни без сына, который преданно и глубоко любит отца. Пойдя "по его стопам", сын поступил в военное училище. Он любит спорт, немного легкомыслен и никак не может наладить отношения со своей девушкой. Она ревниво относится к тому, что ее парень так близок со своим отцом. Отец знает, что должен найти себе работу в другом городе или женщину и что, в конце концов, и ему и сыну предстоит пойти своим путем, чтобы когда-нибудь снова найти друг друга..

Father (Andrej Shetinin) and Son (Alexei Nejmyshev) live together in a rooftop apartment. After the death of the mother, the two have lived for years in their own private world, full of memories and daily rituals. Sometimes their lifestyle resembles a refugee camp, sometimes a prison. Sometimes they seem like brothers. Sometimes even like lovers. Following in his father's footsteps, Alexei attends military school. He likes sports, tends to be irresponsible and has problems with his girlfriend. She is jealous of Alexei's close relationship with his father. Despite knowing that all sons must one day live their own lives, Alexei is conflicted. Alexei's father knows he should maybe accept a better job in another city, maybe search for a new wife. But who will ease the pain of Alexei's nightmares?

ОТЕЦ И СЫН, phonetically read as OTETS I SYN and translates to FATHER & SON in English, is an intimate and mysterious passage from Russia that needs very careful attention from the viewers as there is a big chance of misunderstanding the film. Its intense performances veering from machismo to tenderness is brilliantly directed accompanied by dramatic cinematography and an unforgettable conclusion.

(In RUSSIAN with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Wild Side (2004)

La rencontre d'un trio de marginaux, composé d'un soldat "ASC" russe (Mikhail - Edouard Nikitine), d'une prostituée de transsexuel (Stéphanie - Stéphanie Michelini) et d'une prostituée masculine algérienne (Djamel - Yasmine Belmadi), dans le Paris contemporain, et l'amour qui naît entre eux. Leur alliance sera d'autant plus forte qu'elle se déroulera sur fond de clandestinité et de mort...

The meeting of a marginal trio -- Mikhail (Edouard Nikitine), an AWOL Russian soldier; Stéphanie (Stéphanie Michelini), a transsexual prostitute; and Djamel (Yasmine Belmadi), an Algerian hustler -- in contemporary Paris and the powerful love that binds the three of them. Their alliance becomes stronger as it takes place from the depth of a clandestine nature and death...

WILD SIDE is an award-winning dramatic project from France, Belgium and the UK. It is moving and heartbreaking. The lead trio's performances are so natural and (almost) flawless. The direction is great and the cinematography is stunningly beautiful. And... the musical number is the beginning is so arresting that I happen to believe that the idea of that musical ending in Shortbus was derived from it.

(In FRENCH, ENGLISH & RUSSIAN with ENGLISH subtitles)

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