The genre of New Year's comedy is popular all over the world. Our country is no exception, and for many decades we have been meeting a festive midnight chime of chimes, having pre-mocked at the adventures of Ryazanovās heroes.
In December 2015, the comedy Country of Oz (film) was released. Reviews from critics and viewers, as well as information about its creators and the actors who starred in it, are presented below.
Title
Why "Country of Oz"? Reviews of the film include, among other things, the audienceās hunch about this. In particular, some see in him a hint of a famous fairy tale, where a girl and a dog meet with different, not always kind creatures. There are those who consider OZ as the ambulance number that will be needed by all the inhabitants of the country, which after the New Year will be painfully moving away from a heavy hangover.
Plot
"Country of Oz" (reviews of the film see below) tells about a girl from the village of Malaya Lala - Lena, who came to work in Yekaterinburg. There, on New Year's Eve, she manages to get a saleswoman at a grocery stall. When Lena tries to get to work for the first time, it turns out that no one can tell her where Torforezov Street is located with a retail outlet that it should serve. Not wanting to lose her job with a salary of 15,000 rubles, the poor girl begins to wander, getting into various situations. Meanwhile, at the kiosk she was waited for by a shiftman with a friend who was nervous, because they were not happy with the prospect of celebrating the New Year, do not understand where. There is an intimate conversation between them, which develops into an argument ...
Producer
Despite the fact that the filmography of Vasily Sigarev can hardly be called extensive, he managed to get a large number of prestigious film awards. And this despite the fact that his films are generously seasoned with profanity and expose Russian reality in a not very attractive form.
For the first time, the international theater community spoke of Sigarev in 2002, when he staged in London, on the stage of the Royal Court, the play Plasticine. He became the first non-English playwright to receive the Evening Standard Theater Awards.
In addition to the film āThe Country of Ozā (critics' reviews see below), the director also shot the film āThe Topā (2009) and āLiveā (2012).
Although Sigarev admitted that before starting work on the first picture, he did not even know in what sequence they usually shout āMotor! Camera! We started! ā, She received prizes in the nominationā Best film āof 3 festivals. The director, not least, owed his success to his wife Yana Troyanova. She not only gave him an idea, but also played a major role. Sigarev invited his wife to his next picture, āLive,ā which received the Grand Prix of the East European Film Festival in Wiesbaden and several other awards.
Actors
In the picture, in addition to Yana Troyanova, the main roles were also played:
- Gosha Kutsenko (Roman).
- A. Ilyenkov (Andrey).
- A. Bashirov (Duke).
- E. Tsyganov (driver "under butyrate").
- V. Simonov (bard A. Poberdin).
- S. Kamynin (wife of the bard).
- I. Churikova (mother of "Sofa Warriors").
In addition, one of the filmās full-fledged heroes is the dog Bonya, who accompanies the main character on a trip to the Land of Oz, apparently in order to make the analogy with the old fairy tale about Ellie and Totoshka clearer.
The film "Country of Oz": reviews of film critics (negative)
Although the picture was originally advertised as a New Yearās comedy, it doesnāt look at least like Timur Bekmambetovās āChristmas Treesā. "Country of Oz" is completely devoid of a sense of expectation of a miracle, and its plot is completely unpredictable.
Immediately after the premiere, the film caused confusion among critics who did not expect to see such a caustic display on the screen of Russian philistine reality, brought to absurdity. Especially a lot of comments caused a whole cascade of toilet (in no other way) jokes and a demonstration of human excreta. All this forced specialists not to recommend the film for viewing not only in the family circle, but also with a girl.
Positive reviews from critics
The statement of one of the reviewers that the āCountry of Ozā will never be taken to any European film festival is considered by many to be a compliment and evidence that the picture is absolutely Russian and was 100% successful. The critics' category, which praised the film, notes that all claims to the film about the fact that it is "black-headed" are inappropriate. After all, it simply represents embellishment without embellishment and retouching, however, somewhat exaggerating the most absurd moments.
The film "Country of Oz": viewers reviews (positive)
The opinion of ordinary people who saw the picture about whether it is worth watching is also divided. Some called it the best Russian film of all that they managed to see in the last few years. This group of spectators notes the impartiality and sincerity, as well as the excellent play of the actors, most of which appeared in the most unexpected role. One of the most impressive eulogies even claims that the picture is a mirror of modern reality. Moreover, its author believes that if in a hundred or two hundred years it will be necessary to introduce someone to the life of Russia at the beginning of the 21st century, it will be enough to show him the film āThe Country of Ozā. Reviews of the film leave people of different ages. It turns out that among those who liked him, there are more young people, and the older generation took him with hostility.
Negative reviews from viewers
The overwhelming majority of those who decided to share their opinions about the picture jarred from the lips of Churikova, as well as an overly frank image in the role of prostitutes Daria Ekimasova and Alisa Khazanova. Among the reviews you can hear even those in which the film itself is called a fierce abomination, and its characters are perverts, criminals, alcoholics and just scum.
The opinion of the audience about the game of actors
Most of the attention in the reviews was paid to the play of the leading woman, Yana Troyanova. It is especially noted that, despite the fact that Lena from Malaya Lyaly is laconic due to her āsevere Ural characterā, she manages to express in silence much more than other actors in long monologues. A lot of positive reviews can be heard about the character created by Gosha Kutsenko. Many people like his game in the film "Country of Oz" (2015). Reviews of the film, this actor received more supportive than for the picture "Christmas Tree". In addition, they consider his hero to be the āprince,ā who is rewarded with the newly arrived Ally from Oz. Another memorable image of the mother of Divan Warriors in the film was created by Inna Churikova. Without this actress, Country of Oz (reviews of the critics' film is presented above) would have been deprived of the lion's share of its gloomy and peculiar charm.
Vasily Sigarev about his picture
The director himself prefers to call the film "Entertaining Ethology", which, in his opinion, reflects the essence of this work much better. In one of the interviews, he noted that he didnāt even know where the authors of films like āFir-treesā saw in the life of such heroes they were talking about. He does not consider āhisā characters disgusting. In his opinion, they simply lost their bearings due to the time in which they live.
As for the anti-patriotic display of bare truth, Sigarev considers the cinema "about achievements" frankly harmful, since it prevents one from seeing the shortcomings and does not help to eliminate them.
"Country of Oz" (film), the actors, reviews and reviews of which you know, is unlikely to beat the popularity of traditional New Year comedies. However, it is worth a look, if only in order to form your own opinion about this work by Vasily Sigarev and see your favorite actors in unexpected roles.