Film Review
The review of film "Ostrov".
"Ostrov" was directed /daɪˈrekt/ by Pavel Lungin. It stars Pyotr Mamonov who plays the part a monk Father Anatoly and who is very interesting person in private - formerly /ˈfɔːməli/ one of the few rock musicians in the USSR, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1990s and lives now in an isolated village. Pavel Lungin said about him that "to a large extent, he played himself." The film won the Nika Awards of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor in 2007. This film is set in the 1970s in a remote /rɪˈməʊt/ northern island monastery /ˈmɒn.ə.stri/. It was filmed on location in the city of Kem, in Karelia, on the shores of the White Sea.
Structured /ˈstrʌk.tʃəd/ like a parable /ˈpær.ə.bl̩/, it tells the tale of Father Anatoly, a fictional monk who for decades seeks God's forgiveness for shooting a fellow soldier at the Nazis' behest /bɪˈhest/ during the Second World War to save his own life.
I was captivated by this story. I never expected that a Russian film could bring me into fuller understanding of Christian, especially Orthodox spirituality. Director Pavel Lungin's drama is essentially two hours of hopeful redemption as we watch Anatoly - now a soot-smeared monk on an island monastery - beating himself up for that one, devastating decision. There are no special effects, so we can focus at the story which is very interesting. Despite showing the life of a monk – the film touches our life and the searching issues – does God exist? Is there more to life than this? - but in non pressured, fresh and fun way because Anatoly continues tradition of a so – called “the fools for Christ” who liked to challenge to our way of thinking, especially by making the jokes. Another advantage of this film is wonderful scenery with the austerely /ɔːˈstɪərli/ beautiful music.
I strongly recommended "Ostrov". It makes laugh and meditate. The film shows us that
"Ostrov" was directed /daɪˈrekt/ by Pavel Lungin. It stars Pyotr Mamonov who plays the part a monk Father Anatoly and who is very interesting person in private - formerly /ˈfɔːməli/ one of the few rock musicians in the USSR, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1990s and lives now in an isolated village. Pavel Lungin said about him that "to a large extent, he played himself." The film won the Nika Awards of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor in 2007. This film is set in the 1970s in a remote /rɪˈməʊt/ northern island monastery /ˈmɒn.ə.stri/. It was filmed on location in the city of Kem, in Karelia, on the shores of the White Sea.
Structured /ˈstrʌk.tʃəd/ like a parable /ˈpær.ə.bl̩/, it tells the tale of Father Anatoly, a fictional monk who for decades seeks God's forgiveness for shooting a fellow soldier at the Nazis' behest /bɪˈhest/ during the Second World War to save his own life.
I was captivated by this story. I never expected that a Russian film could bring me into fuller understanding of Christian, especially Orthodox spirituality. Director Pavel Lungin's drama is essentially two hours of hopeful redemption as we watch Anatoly - now a soot-smeared monk on an island monastery - beating himself up for that one, devastating decision. There are no special effects, so we can focus at the story which is very interesting. Despite showing the life of a monk – the film touches our life and the searching issues – does God exist? Is there more to life than this? - but in non pressured, fresh and fun way because Anatoly continues tradition of a so – called “the fools for Christ” who liked to challenge to our way of thinking, especially by making the jokes. Another advantage of this film is wonderful scenery with the austerely /ɔːˈstɪərli/ beautiful music.
I strongly recommended "Ostrov". It makes laugh and meditate. The film shows us that