East/West (1999)

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

The aesthetic options this movie takes will make you immerse into the epoch. From the beginning, when they get down from the ship and the music and military marches don't sound as they should, but muffled and empty, you could see reality was going to take its toll on the couple's dreams.While quite implausible (Sasha's crossing, Aleksei Golovin getting scots-free from all he did) the villains are not as dumb and cartoonish as in other films of, say, Nazy Germany.Sandrine Bonnaire is fine. Unrecognizable from her half wit Sophie from La Cérémonie (1995) as well as the sleuth in Chabrol's Au coeur du mensonge, she's radiantly beautiful here. Only later, watching some scant pictures at IMDb, did I realize that her nose, for instance, isn't exactly "nice". Good for her, her smile erases our rationality :).I found the film surprising, specially since the couple of main characters don't perform according to expectations. Aleksei, while the honest bright physician, falls in the clutches of a believable Olga (as Tatiana Doguileva) without much ado. And Marie is not immune to Russian charm either, forgetting her son at her charge to boot.What I really didn't like is the heroic format of Catherine Deneuve's actress turned "freedom fighter" Gabrielle Develay. As if the director, writer etc. had to erase with one elbow what had been (well) written with the other one, this character comes out of the blue to be the only "hope of liberty at western capitalism". As one character says to her: "You hardly know this person you're risking your life for!". Besides the tricks for a Disney movie, the "last minute efforts", the stupidest guards on earth etc, I suspect the KGB didn't run the country or kill more than 20 million people and could have not realized that, for instance, once Marie first gave sure signs of "dissidence" and then did what she did (Sasha), she wasn't going to try more mischief. So Sasha's story, from his swimming talents (like a bad Hollywood movie), the state official realizing his family had all been traitors and him being let free to wander in the country, then his standing at the French Embassy like if somebody in his condition could really barter for anything (there were millions of people in the same condition).The dismal housing problems are accurately depicted, as well as the troubles of "too many people living under a single roof". Of course, like in all big productions, visuals are fine (like Sasha's training at a beautiful cold river), as the epoch (the buildings, cars, clothing, the already mentioned crowded flat, even the "expensive Bulgarian hotel" looks, well... Sovietic and fadish!). The opulent interiors shot in drab color as jotix100 from New York writes at IMDb. Ah, the petty thiefs who "find chicken around the corner" and jewellry from a relative are sympa, they add some naive contrast to the dire Soviet conditions. Which were probably many times worse than what the film dares to show.All in all, I liked the film. But I feel it lost gravitas and depth due to concession to the ticket office.

This film is such a masterpiece! I don't really know what to say... I watched it over to find a flaw but it's just impossible. One thing, I doubt it was really THAT bad in Soviet Russia. I know it wasn't a heaven of freedom and human rights, but I still have a feeling the situation has been slightly exaggerated. On the other hand, regardless of your point of view, the film is just perfect. The entire cast is very well chosen, and the plot simply "hunts" the viewer. Even the soundtrack is remarkably intriguing. Simply and briefly, go watch it - NOW!10/10