I watched Luna sleva (1928) so you don't have to (unless you love old Soviet rooms)

Should you watch Luna sleva today? Only if you have a high tolerance for flickering black-and-white screens and intense staring.

If you like seeing how people actually lived in 1920s Russia—or at least how movies said they lived—it is a trip. If you hate silent films where the plot moves like a tired turtle, skip this one immediately. 🚩

The whole thing is about the housing crisis. It turns out, even back then, finding a decent apartment was a total nightmare.

The plot is a bit of a scramble. A few students decide to have a sham marriage just to get a room, which is a classic move, honestly.

I forgot some of the names halfway through because the title cards go by so fast. But Yelena Yegorova really stands out.

She has these eyes that look like she hasn't slept in three years. She spends a lot of time looking out of windows or at peeling wallpaper. 🏚️

There is this one guy, Kovalyov, who thinks he is the boss of everyone. He wears a hat that looks two sizes too small for his head.

The movie is called 'Moon on the Left,' which sounds poetic but mostly feels like a weird joke about politics. Or maybe they just liked the way the moon looked through a dirty window.

Speaking of windows, there is a scene where someone tries to fix a curtain. It takes forever. Forever.

The silence in these movies always feels heavy. You can almost hear the dust hitting the floor in that crowded apartment.

I found myself wondering if the actors were actually cold during filming. You can see their breath in a few shots, I think.

It is not exactly a laugh-out-loud comedy. It is more of a 'wow, life was rough' kind of comedy.

The editing is really jumpy. Sometimes a character is in one corner of the room, and then suddenly they are across the street.

It’s got that jerky, old-school rhythm that makes everyone look like they are walking on fast-forward. I kind of love it, though.

The way they handle the 'New Economic Policy' stuff is interesting. It feels like the movie is trying to be a lesson, but it gets distracted by the drama.

One scene has a group of people arguing around a tiny table. It felt so claustrophobic I had to look away for a second.

It reminds me of the weird vibe in Moon Madness, but without the Hollywood gloss. This is much grittier.

There is a lot of smoking. Everyone has a cigarette glued to their lip. 🚬

The 'moon' part of the title comes up in a conversation about romance versus duty. It is very 1920s. Very serious.

I noticed a small cat in the background of one scene. It looked very confused by the actors yelling at each other.

The cat is probably the most relatable character in the whole movie. It just wants a nap.

If you have seen As in a Looking Glass, you might appreciate the way the camera lingers on faces here. But this is way more political.

The lighting is actually pretty good for 1928. They use shadows to make the tiny rooms feel even smaller.

There’s a moment where a girl is brushing her hair and she looks so tired. It’s a small detail, but it felt real.

The whole 'fake marriage' thing gets complicated because, surprise, people have feelings. It is the original rom-com trope but with more Marxism.

I think the movie ends a bit too abruptly. One minute they are arguing, and the next, it’s over. 🎬

Maybe they ran out of film. Or maybe they just decided we’d seen enough suffering for one day.

It is definitely better once it stops trying to be a 'message' and just shows the kids being messy. Humans are always messy, no matter the year.

Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. Is it a weirdly fascinating time capsule? Absolutely.

I wouldn't watch it twice. But I am glad I watched it once, just to see that tiny apartment and those big, desperate eyes.

Don't expect a clear ending. Life in 1928 didn't really have clear endings, I guess.

Anyway, if you want something that feels like a dusty old diary, give it a go. Just bring your own snacks, because the food in the movie looks terrible. 🍞