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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Dubrovsky remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, it depends on how much you like staring at grainy, black-and-white Russian forests. If you’re a history buff or love classic literature, you’ll probably find this charming. If you want a fast-paced thriller, you’re going to be checking your watch every ten minutes.
It’s not exactly what I’d call 'accessible.' It feels like it was filmed inside a museum, which is both a compliment and a warning.
There’s a lot of staring off into the middle distance in this movie. The actors spend half their screen time looking like they’re waiting for a train that isn’t coming. When they finally do speak, it’s all very dramatic and intense.
The whole conflict centers on land, which is about as dry as it gets, but the way they frame the anger of the peasants feels surprisingly sharp. Even if the production value screams '1930s studio lot,' you can feel the weight of Pushkin’s writing behind the scenes.
I couldn't help but think about how different this is from the snappy energy you get in something like The Captain of Bandits. This is a slow burn that doesn't really want to ignite, but it keeps the fire warm enough to hold your attention if you let it.
There's this one scene where a character is just walking through a hallway, and the camera lingers for so long I started wondering if the projectionist fell asleep. It wasn't profound. It was just weirdly long. I kind of liked it, though.
It feels like a project that was trying to be important. It doesn't always hit the mark, but it’s definitely trying. It’s not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon, but it’s certainly more interesting than some of the hollow stuff we get dumped with today. 🎞️