Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Jonathan C I just got back from a New Year's Eve party where my Russian host gave a screening of The Irony of Fate, a movie I had never seen before. Apparently, everybody in Russia watches it every year on New Year's eve, and it is easy to see why. This movie is a terrific romantic comedy that is touching, thoughtful and hilarious. It is tough to describe the plot without dumping some spoilers, but the main idea is that a young man from Moscow on his wedding day goes to a public bath with some of his friends (he explains several times in the movie that it is a tradition), has a few drinks, and accidentally ends up on a plane to Leningrad. He is so drunk that he does not realize he is in a different city and gets a taxi ride to what he thinks is his own apartment. He goes in and falls asleep only to be discovered by a beautiful woman, who actually lives in the apartment. What happens next has to be seen to be believed.The plot seems far fetched, but is clearly a satire of the cookie-cutter life that people led in the old Soviet Union--all the apartments were the same I guess, to the point where a guy would not realize that he was not in his own place if sufficiently drunk. From there the movie is surprisingly realistic, and the chemistry between the leads is outstanding. This movie is a great view into Soviet culture, and an awesome evening of entertainment.

trionon07 This film has celebrated its 30th anniversary on this 2006 New Year Eve, and there was a special programme about the creation of the film, actors etc. Apparently, the whole country (then USSR) watched it when it was first shown in 1976, and they wanted to see if the rating would be the same 30 years later. I have to say, I have been watching this film religiously since early teens every New Year and when I moved to live in the UK, the video recording of "Ironiya" was one of the essential items I brought with me. It's one of those films that I can watch over and over again, instant mood lifter, and I just can't imagine my New Year day / eve without it, and a bottle of "Soviet" champagne, and Russian salad, and the proverbial Jellied fish that Ippolit referred to as "muck" (I think the closest translation I can think of). On my way back from Moscow to London in Janaury, I tried to purchase a DVD copy in the airport but was told by the assistant that they are permanently sold out!!!

Witold Brostow Let me sort out what in this film is Soviet, what is Russian, and what is universal.Soviet is the background, including the cartoon which precedes the appearance of humans: a man with a tube kills any architect originality, even so innocent as balconies. As a consequence, the same buildings are put up in Artica as well in a southern desert before surprised camels. The Soviet reality is the basis of the plot with identical buildings in different cities. Also the New Year tree rather that the Christmas tree is Soviet. However, as the story unfolds, the Soviet reality recedes into little visible background. An exception is a line in one of the songs: if you do not have a dog, your neighbor cannot poison your dog.Russian are the beautiful poems which are made into songs. There are also some views of Leningrad, but actually only a few, with the St. Isaac Basilica shown several times from different sides.The cast and the technical crew are largely Russian, but not only. Obviously Armenian, Georgian and Jewish names are listed. The actress playing Nadya has been imported from Central Europe; Barbara Brylska is a Polish actress, well known also from a number of other movies made in Poland as well as in other countries. The appeal of the film is truly universal ! This is the reason why viewers from countries so disparate as Latvia, Ukraine and China like this film so much (not to mention Texans). The love-jealousy quadrangle, two mothers, friends of Zhenya and colleagues of Nadya could have lived in many countries around the world. Even the story of the same address could have happened for instance in Germany where practically every city and town has Bahnhofstrasse and Poststrasse. Finally, the atmosphere of this film is unique - a word which very rarely can be used discussing films. We have seen other films directed by Eldar Ryazanov, all of them good, but none comparable to this one. All that takes place in the film is plausible, it could have happened in reality. At the same time, there is the feeling of poetic, unreal and sublime. These two basically opposed reactions to the film coexist somehow in the viewer; this simply does not happen in movies, films directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski excepted. Irony of the Fate is a truly wonderful film, alive 30 years after being created; it will enchant future generations as well.

amlover Okay, so I'm in love with Andrey Mjagkov, but all that aside, you've simply gotta love this movie. It's funny, it makes you feel good. Somewhat far-fetched plot (I won't give it away, just go watch it), but the acting is great, the directing is great, the music is great, the singing is great. Unlike most Russian movies it does not leave you with a sense of impending doom and in a state of utter depression. It will leave you with a whole new view of Russian film and Russian life (that's if you're not Russian and don't already have a very unique view). Watch it! Trust me!