Kira Muratova

[Irene1972]

yesterday I went to another intellectual film of Kira Muratova the third one
for me but this time I as sort of disappointed. Her films are full of
symbolism but of course you can see behind the symbols. This time the plot
was repelling by showing ugly side of life as it is. The two previous ones were better.

One of the "Among gray stones" was about
beggars who lived in an underground cave. Among them there was a girl of
five-six years old. The story ends sadly - she dies because such dirty,
hungry underground life with rats running around is not for gentle flowers
(when she gets ill she repeats "Little flower is ill, little flower is ill")
But there is such beauty about these poor people's hearts, the girl's elder
brother who takes such care of her, their father who loves them so much
thatcan't bear them being hungry and goes to steal if her can't get any job
to do. And a boy form the judge's family, judge's son who is attracted to
these people and comes to play with them every day. Little girl dreams about
a doll. She's never had a doll in her life. Judge's son decides to take one
of many dolls that belong to his sister and give it to little girl. She's
ill by that time but she puts a doll into her "bed", embraces her and looks
at her all the time, touches her eyes, cheeks, nose. This doll is the only
beautiful thing in their cave and it looks almost little sick girl.
The next day the judge makes an investigation and accuses his son in
stealing the sister's doll. He readily confesses but refuses to say who he
gave it. The father starts shaking him violently but at this moment a beggar
comes in through the door holding a doll. He brought is back because little
girl has died and doesn't need it anymore.
It sounds like a sad story but the emphasis is not on teh sad part of it but
on teh inner beauty of these dirty people who living in their cave don't
allow cave to enter their hearts. They
re still caring, loving and kind, always helping each other. Children are
normal children and love playing and messing around. As for sad part isn't
our life full of sad things? I may not live in a cave but I don't have so
many things I need. Not only material ones but mostly those that money can't
buy. Were' all bums in one or other area of our life. Of course you may not
agree with me but I hardly ever saw people living a harmonically full life
would be faith, career, friends, married life, hobbies, financial stability.
I met only a few who had total fulfillment in all these. Most of us lack
something.

Well, I guess that's it. I don't know if you like intellectual cinema. If
you like thought-provoking films. As for me I like to make the brain work.
That's what it's for.

She's a classic of Russian cinema standing in one row with Arseni Tarkovsy. If you happend to see the video of her films do buy a couple to make your own judgement.