Grandma (2004)

at the first sigh, a story just for the Eastern public. because only a viewer from East Europe/ maybe from Mediteranean area/ could understand the nuances and the force of message. because the basic tool for discover its beauty is to know the status of grandmother in the family. she is the axis and the wise adviser and the source of joy and the educator and the keeper of the secrets, tradition and traces of the past, pieces from the treasure of family identity. this film is about the fall of this special status. and about the price for this event. result - a touching story about hope and sacrifice and faith and trust. and about the importance of roots. nothing more. but real useful. for see the life. and the other. in different light.

because it is a touching picture of Russia because it is a good support to understand the East Europe. because the performance of Nina Shubina is admirable. a not complicated story. nothing spectacular. not judgment or verdicts. only testimony about an old woman and the relations with her relatives. and it is enough. a film with old special flavor. almost a fairy tale who reminds the solid walls who defines our lives. a film about love, miracle and forgiveness, sacrifice and wise choice. and an amazing character who gives answer to blindness of the other grace to her huge dedication and manner to discover life sense. must see it only for rediscover science of profound simplicity to be heart of existence.

Many people in the West have a difficult time understanding why Russian's seem to be so indifferent or even supportive of the slow erosion of freedom currently underway under Putin's regime. Some of this is due to the fact that Western media makes Putin's "reforms" seem much worse than they really are. However, much of this misunderstanding in the West is due, in large part, to the West's ignorance of all the troubles the peoples of the former USSR have had to suffer in the 1990's. These troubles have shaken up society so much in Russia, that stability is what matters now, more than anything else.This film does a fairly good job of presenting much of the societal upheaval that took place during the 90's in Russia, by focusing on the relationships of one family that had to live through them. The film portrays traditional Russian (rural) culture and its conflicts with the new. At times the subject matter can be very funny and at other times downright heart breaking.The acting, writing, and direction are all superb. This is one of those movies that I would say is a must see for anyone that is interested in Russian cinema.

Tolstoy said that happy families were all alike; unhappy families are unhappy in their own distinct way. In this family, grandmother Tosia - who dug ditches at the front in WWII, took care of her daughter's children, and divided the proceeds of the sale of her house to her two sons and daughter - is threatened with homelessness. Regardless of her sacrifices in the past for her extended family, scarcely any of her relatives express willingness to take her in. And the more well-off they are, the more antipathy they seem to possess.Not necessarily a pleasant theme - but one probably existent in all cultures to some extent.