Search - The Cold Summer of 1953 on DVD

A post-Soviet film from the Soviet Union

Donald Taylor | Virginia USA | 02/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This film was shot in 1987, when Russia was still part of the USSR. The film, however, is openly critical of Soviet authority. It couldn't have been made as little as a year earlier, but the makers decided to take a chance after Gorbachev and glasnost' came on the scene. Ultimately, not much happens in the film, although some blood is spilled. It does establish a certain atmosphere and mood. Virtually the entire story takes place in a miniscule Siberian village and involves a mere handful of characters. I was expecting the washed-out, grainy image of earlier Soviet films, but the image quality was quite good. Subtitles in about twenty languages are offerred, as well as dubbing in English and French. The only extra of note is a 15-minute interview with the director, who discusses how the film was transformed from the run-of-the-mill detective story he was tasked by Mosfilm to make into a risky critique of Soviet authority and those who either wield or accept it. I wouldn't recommend this film for those who expect American-style action; it's definitely done in the European style."