As 2012 draws to a close, families in Russia and beyond will sit down to watch much-loved comedy Ironiya Sudby (The Irony of Fate), first shown in the Soviet Union on Dec. 31, 1975.
They may also want to try “So mnoyu vot chto proiskhodit” or “With Me, That’s What Happens.”
This new Russian film, now showing in Kyiv, is in many ways a meditation on the 1975 one, but not to be confused with the “Ironiya Sudby 2” sequel in 2007.
This movie, too, begins with confused travel connections on Dec. 31. A middle-aged man visiting Moscow from Volgograd misses his train (and then his flight) home and is forced to spend New Year’s Eve at his brother’s apartment in the capital.
What follows is an unusual film sprinkled with bittersweet humor and impromptu wisdom. The two brothers rush around 21st Century Moscow, with the Kremlin and nightmarish traffic jams in the background. They are joined by an unlikely heroine, a blonde 13-year-old called Alyona who has been neglected by her parents. The girl, played by Aleksandra Petrova (born in 1996) and in her debut role, shows both childlike vulnerability and surprising understanding.
The two brothers also make a strong duo. Gosha Kutsenko, who grew up in Lviv, stars as the younger brother who has built a successful yet lonely life in Moscow. This is symbolized by his pristine white apartment, complete with a flashy laptop. The elder brother, played by Viktor Shamirov (who also directed the film), is practically the opposite. He stayed in the family’s home city of Volgograd and looks upon the capital with a mixture of fear and disdain. Baffled by his dissatisfied wife and children, he is something of a provincial philosopher. The brothers lead different lives, but neither is happy.
The film’s soundtrack comes straight from “Ironiya Sudby.” The song that gives the film the title is written by Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. It plays a direct role in the film. The younger brother, who works in a corporation, is preparing to sing it at the company’s New Year ball. He hopes to impress his boss and get a promotion. But, as the film progresses, his ambitions are foiled and he begins to remember what matters most in life.
The blurb warns that “this is not a film with a plot.” And rightly so. But it is a good alternative to the generic “festive” comedies (whether Western or Russian) produced at this time of the year. And, since the film only lasts 72 minutes, you won’t even have time to start fidgeting.
Story by Annabelle Chapman
