Negr iz Sheridana: A relic worth a glance

Is it worth the time?

If you have a soft spot for grainy, old cinema that doesn't mind taking the scenic route to nowhere, you might find something to like here. If you need a plot that moves at a brisk pace or characters who actually say what they mean, look elsewhere. Honestly, this is one of those movies that exists entirely in its own bubble.

It’s not for the casual Friday night crowd. But if you’re the type of person who digs through archives just to see how cameras moved in older, quieter times, you’ll be fine.

The vibe

There’s a scene where Gabriel Nelidov-Frenkel just stares out a window for what feels like an eternity. I checked my watch. Twice. It wasn't necessarily boring, just... heavy. The whole film feels like it’s struggling to catch its breath.

I couldn't help but think about L'ensorcellement de Séville while watching this. They share that same weird, stifling air where you’re just waiting for something to shatter. Except here, nothing really does.

Odd bits and pieces

• The lighting in the library scene is completely inconsistent, like they ran out of bulbs halfway through.
• Nikolai Vitovtov looks like he’s trying to remember his lines every time he turns his head. It’s kind of endearing?
• The background extras in the street scene are clearly just walking back and forth to fill space. One guy in a hat walks by four times.

It’s a bit like The Sign of the Rose in the way it handles its characters' isolation, though it lacks that film's specific kind of punch. Everything here is muffled. It’s almost like watching a dream that you’re slowly forgetting while it’s still playing.

Final thoughts

I’m not entirely sure why I finished it. Maybe because I wanted to see if the coat worn by I. Marks would ever change. (It didn't.) 🧥

It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s not a disaster. It just is. Sometimes, that’s all you get.