To me, this movie is perfection.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I was biased against watching this movie by poor reviews and I was glad that I did not listen to them. Shame on these reviewers. Too much of Hollywood, I gather. The movie cannot be considered outside of the context of timeframe. It is 1979. Exactly a year before his death. Anyone who knows anything about Vysotskiy knows that he was very ill at that time - his heart started giving in. It was rumored that he had 2 or 3 clinical deaths before he passed away. That's how he is shown in the movie: weak body, but indomitable spirit. And all these talks about money - he only needed money as a tool to be free, to do what he wanted - to move around freely and see his people, his audience. It was clearly shown when he comes out to the scene to meet the spectators, when he should not have to, over enormous chest pain knowing full well, that he could drop dead right there. Nobody needs money that much and whoever accused Vysotskiy (or creators of the movie) of that should be ashamed. The scene with KGB colonel is just perfect - the dialog of truly free person and a faithful servant of the communist regime. And the highlight of this whole movie - when he boards the plane, pulls out a wrapper from the cigarette box to sketch down his next masterpiece poem: it's all in the eyes of his companion looking over his shoulder - all the suffering she went through was just repaid. Yes, there was some wardrobe malfunction: in some scenes the mask did not work really well and one can guess the actor behind this mask. I have two things to say about it: 1) You can't hide dirt from a pig 2) Yes, it was a mask, because real Vysotskiy died in 1980 and if one one really demands perfect special effects to believe, than they should be watching movies that require no imagination whatsoever...Anyway, sorry for the tirade. You can tell I feel too passionate about the subject.

I would say this is film about man who is the symbol of the people versus death. And the death in this film closely related to government and KGB. Death is also can be seen as the Visotskiy inability to further work on his poetry - which is the life. Most people who do not know about Visotskiy, how people lived in Soviet Union, will find this film as waste of time. Most people who know Visotskiy well will expect bio type film. It is not. Audience younger than 40 and who lived in former USSR, may expect true satisfaction. As film it is very good. Soundtrack selection sometimes strange. Actors are excellent, except Visotskiy, dialogs are good.

I am 38. In my childhood my parents had a tape with Vysotskiy songs and used it as lullaby for me. His unique voice always made me calm. When I grew older I began to understand his lyrics and was charmed. It was a life time love. I still have in my collection some of his records and listen sometimes. I have read a few books of Marina Vlady about him. I know that he has a lot of problems with alcohol And that is all I know about him. A few words about very neglect review of eugenep13 from USA. It's difficult to evaluate something you know nothing about. Vladimir Vysotskiy I suppose is one of those Russian singers who can be comprehended and fully evaluated only by Russians themselves, especially by those Russians who lived in times of Vysotskiy. What was Vysotskiy for them at those times? A voice of freedom and liberty, an ordinary man who lived their problems, who suffered their troubles and who had a courage to say it aloud. He was not convenient, ideologically right poet for authorities. He was a poet of people's heart. That's why he was equally gladly met in almost all societies of Soviet people and the same time was a pain in we-all-know-what-place for authorities. He was almost impossible to control. he was a free man in a not free country. That's why it is difficult for me to evaluate this specific movie. Make-up and effects are great. Vysotskiy on a screen is almost alive. But the same time I don't understand why the authors of the movie took especially that moment in biography of a great person. There was 3 director of that movie. Mitta was in the beginning as I remember, then the one in the middle and the movie was finished by the third one. What has come out is something not really good. It should have been nostalgic movie about era and times past. What we have is a movie about last outbreak of strong personality which is already slowly dying because of drugs. I don't understand for whom was that movie. If it is West oriented than it gives very wrong impression about Vysotskiy. Just because that is the first movie of such kind and Vladimir Vysotskiy not very popular abroad. If it was cut for Russians - then why is it so dark? I don't want to see one of my favorite poets in a such pathetic role. Especially when a question of Vysotskiy and drugs was never officially proved. It should have been nostalgic movie about a great personality! Instead we was shown a lot of faults in Vysotskiy's character. I wanted something which would make me proud to live in my country and nostalgic and which would make my eyes full of tears. Something like "Zvezda plenitelnogo schastya". I haven't received what I hoped for. May be with the end of Soviet era great Russian movie has really died. But nevertheless I give it 7 just because it was at least cut. I recommend anyone who knows nothing about Vysotskiy not to watch this movie. You will get wrong impression about him. Or at least read something else about him before watching.

Well first of all sorry for my English, i should have prepared this speech, but i can't leave it like this and go to sleep after reading the upper post. I wouldn't like to vote for this movie, it's not easy, because the MAN who was loved by millions of people was shown in such pity way. OK Russian cinematography leaves much to be desired this time, and most of those who have seen this movie consider that this MAN doesn't deserve such a memory. BUT! How can anybody say about this person in a manner like that.. i just can't find the words. Vladimir Vysotsky was the greatest poet, singer and actor of the 20'th century (ok in Russia) and nobody can judge him without knowing what the person he was and what he did for Russian people. His original nature, inexhaustible energy and magic voice make everybody better whether you see him playing or hear him singing, it makes your heart melt and tears flow. Yes his life was not easy, he suffered on this earth like Jesus, he loved his motherland and he never tried to escape from that hell abroad like others did that time. But he couldn't feel himself free anywhere. That was his tragedy. But he was given the great gift - the great woman's love. Marina Vlady sacrificed her life and career and that was the most beautiful and fantastic love i've seen ever. His lyrics are so strong and full of value, lots of themes like war, love, repression and human being. Just read his lyrics and maybe you'll understand Russian soul. Here in English my favourite song and lots of others with original rhymes http://www.wysotsky.com/1033.htm?521 I can write endlessly about this person and i will always lack the words to describe his nature, but you can read Marina's book and just have your own opinion about Vladimir Vysotsky or just listen to his songs and if your heart doesn't beat faster, well then this world is rolling the wrong way.. here are some links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdCyOJf0v4A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEum0Yhan4w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e44k8mJv3t4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRXaiy65SGw&feature=related and the only video of that great love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T3MILrOIAQ and finally here you can see Moscow in July 1980, when the Olympic games took place but everybody came to say good bye to him, though the funeral was not announced. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYrDvBX77KI&feature=related