Search - Shostakovich - Cheryomushki (Cherry Town) on DVD

NOT REGION 2!!

DPG | New York | 07/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is NOT, as stated by Amazon, Region 2 encoded.
It is an NTSC Region 0(1-6) DVD, and is playable on all standard DVD players. Don't know why it has been listed as Region 2.
I just received my copy from Amazon, and am very pleased. It's great to have this entertaining film and intersting historical document finally available to Shostakovich fans in the west."

A Wonderful Musical Comedy

-Misha | CWA | 01/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Cheryomushki" (1963) is a wonderful film with a wonderful story. I found that I really loved the music and the songs were in my head for days. The film is basically a light musical romantic comedy, with lots of singing and dancing but it offers a glimpse into life in the USSR in the 1960's. I highly recommend it. Many people might think that a Soviet film could somehow be drab or depressing, but this film is anything but; it is extremely uplifting and even inspiring. The film is done in Russian, but the subtitles are so well done that English speakers will hardly notice that.

Apparently Shostakovich is widely regarded as the one of the best composers of the 20th century. After viewing this film I did a bit of research on him and I stumbled on a DVD biography. I was amazed by the man's life story. He was indeed an amazing talent, and this film proves it, even if nothing else did. "Cheryomushki" is a film to own. I can't recommend it highly enough.

The transfer to DVD is virtually flawless, which is unusual for a film made back in 1963 (or for any film). The soundtrack is great. I read the small print and the DVD was made in Europe, in Western Germany, but of course the version sold here is set up to work with American DVD players (region 1-6 or basically the whole world - NTSC)."

Another Side of Things

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 10/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I ordered this DVD entirely for the music of Shostakovich, my candidate for the greatest 20th C composer of all. Well, the music, although charming, is deliberately light-weight and not at all the most interesting thing about this production. It says something about the soviet "experiment" that a composer of Shostakovich's earnestness would have written such a gentle bit of populism. Can you imagine Milton Babbit or Thomas Ades, or any high-art western composer writing such music without being condescending?
The movie Cherry Town was filmed in 1963. The fact that it, or any other soviet popular art form, was never noticed in any way in the USA seems to me to speak volumes about the conduct of the Cold War. People in the USA were satisfied to know only one side of the story. The USSR was so demonized during the 50s, 60s, and later that this film will be hard for most Americans to watch honestly and evaluate fairly. It's a musical comedy, closest in style and appeal to the Bing Crosby stuff of the 50s, or to "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Oklahoma". It's wonderfully innocent and romantic, and OPTIMISTIC! IDEALISTIC! ??? In Russia? Yes, in Russia. But it's not a white-wash of soviet society. In fact, it's sharply satirical of bureaucratic corruption, of inefficiency, and of the new-man culture of newly urbanizing Russia. Watch it with an open mind. Can you remember any comparably pointed social commentary in any American musical comedy of the same era?
All in all, however, it's probably a one-time viewing production, which is why I've given it only a four-star. But I confess that I'm not a musical comedy fan; I wouldn't give five stars to any Broadway musical other than Porgy and Bess."

Fantastic work and film!

Basili Andrea | Parma, Italy | 06/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a great artist Shostakovich was! A masterpiece that overwhelm thousands of composers. The film is in perfect tune with the music. Own it and show it to all your friends! Shostakovich is simply the 2oth centrury best composer."