Brilliant and touching

Absolutely Brilliant!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

The second time I saw this film I could see why people had said it was sentimental, overly staged. However I thought it was worth seeing a second time...Because the first time I saw it, one woman in the group of friends I went with was an international expert on Russian literature and Dostoyevsky in particular. She said she thought the film got to the nub of a Russian preoccupation... this woman wrestling with her identity. (OK she happens to be an American woman). If such an intellectual heavyweight thought it worth her 3 hours, it can't be that bad.The comments in other threads about the film not getting enough coverage don't tell us anything about the intrinsic value of the film. If anything they simply tell us that markets everywhere are different (a triumph of anti-globalism?) AND/OR that many many good films are made which we never hear about. Many good books are written and never published. Many beautiful people never make it to Hollywood...

I like a lot of movie's , but The Barber of Siberia is to me a 10+ movie! An epic romance about lost love, betrayal and the human spirit.It is Nikita Mikhalkov's most ambitious film and first film shot in English. It's one of my favorite, absolutely brilliant, movie.Hertbreaking love story with Julia Ormond (as Jane) always in movement like a waltz that sometime turns into a polka and sometimes into a french cancan. Oleg Menshikov played the lead role in 17 films and worked with the most talented Russian directors.Oleg was born on November 8 1960 in Senpoukhov, Moscow.In 1981 he graduated from Chtepkine Drama School and started to perform on various stages, playing in The Idiot and Caligula(for which he was named Best Actor at Moscow Theatre Festival in 1991).In 1998 he accepted the Russian National Prize for his entire work in film.I visit Moscow ,special to see the shooting-location.The bridge over the Yauza (krasnokazarmennaja pl),the prison on misjudge per,Faleevskij per, the small street near Kremlin.Also Novodevitsje(the lake). For your interest; on DVD by RUSCICO, wildscreen.180 min, 16:9. Specials +++. also PAL. all region.

This long Russian film set before the Soviet take over is of the sort they don't make any more. The story of a "mad" inventor, a young woman, and a cadet in the military is a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon. This is a small scale epic that haunts you long after you've finished watching it.I've heard that this film was brought to Cannes with great expectations only to have it poorly received and so found itself doomed to near oblivion. I don't know if this is true or not but I do know that this film really needs to be seen by more people because its simply a good story about love and the choices we make.Richard Harris is wonderful in what is really a supporting role as the inventor, who's attempt to make money in Old Russia is the catalyst for love and tragedy. As the lovers Julia Ormand and Oleg Menshikov are perfect who's lives and love take some decidedly unexpected twists.Despite it being over three hours I doubt you'll be bored, I wasn't. (Though now there's a fuller version running almost five hours out there. One can hope that this will show up on American shores since the prospect of knowing more about these characters is exciting) If you can, see this movie, its very good stuff.

I guess I'm an odd one for using the word "fun" to describe this movie but it's the only word I could think of after viewing the Barber of Siberia. BOS isn't the typical period piece, it's not stuffy like the English ones and it's not heavy handed like in your standard Russian flicks. It has something that a lot of period films lack, HUMOR! The movie doesn't take itself too seriously and it goes along at a very brisk pace. Julia Ormond is one of the most beautiful and talented actresses of all time and this is an excellent vehicle for her. I will say this isn't the movie for serious film snobs, it's very light and audience pleasing. I would recommend Barber of Siberia to anyone looking for something different.