57 reviews
The story is set in 1900, in Russia. Two people from different social classes meet... how will the story end?
I found it on Netflix and decided to give it a try. The Russian winter atmosphere was absolutely fantastic. I liked the places and the ice skiing made it easier to watch as it gave some rapidity. I liked the feminism side of the film considering the epoque in which the story is set. I would have liked to see a more clear explanation of the political background because as the viewer gets to see the romance, he can get easily distracted by lots of details. Unfortunately it's a bit too long.
I found it on Netflix and decided to give it a try. The Russian winter atmosphere was absolutely fantastic. I liked the places and the ice skiing made it easier to watch as it gave some rapidity. I liked the feminism side of the film considering the epoque in which the story is set. I would have liked to see a more clear explanation of the political background because as the viewer gets to see the romance, he can get easily distracted by lots of details. Unfortunately it's a bit too long.
It is a good option to entertain you for 2 hours; the actors are charismatic, the plot is decent and the cinematography is beautiful; it is a nice love story full of drama and action.
- DogePelis2015
- Jun 19, 2021
- Permalink
Surprisingly I really enjoyed this movie. Yes the plot was predictable and the performance of the main actors a little bit underwhelming, but overall it was beautifully made.
The cinematography were amazing and the action scenes made it fun to watch. Despite the length of the film I didn't feel bored, and it kept my interest until the end.
I really appreciate that we saw a strong and clever female character and not the typical beautiful princess.
All in all, a nice movie that raises awareness about women's rights and equality.
The cinematography were amazing and the action scenes made it fun to watch. Despite the length of the film I didn't feel bored, and it kept my interest until the end.
I really appreciate that we saw a strong and clever female character and not the typical beautiful princess.
All in all, a nice movie that raises awareness about women's rights and equality.
- marinarisap
- Jun 17, 2021
- Permalink
First of all this is my first review. Even though I am constantly rating movies and shows that I watched I feel so lazy to leave a comment. And also this is the first russian movie that I've watched. I truly loved this movie. Storyline was predictable mayb but the way that pictured to screen was amazing. I grow up reading the russian classics. So going to Russia in the new year's has been one of my dreams in this life. And this movie was made me feel like I was in that dream.
This movie is just fantastic !
Starting with the most beautiful location, St Petersburg !
Casting is great Costumes are so impressive !
Recommend viewing.
Starting with the most beautiful location, St Petersburg !
Casting is great Costumes are so impressive !
Recommend viewing.
- lucienm-60321
- Jun 19, 2021
- Permalink
Russian fairytale got iceskating action and women's empowerment drama. Winter cinematography and gorgeous production design created unique cinematic experience for audience to sit through its predictability. Fedotov & Priss made a sweet inter-caste romance here.
Now this movie is a hidden gem, never knew it existed, came across it in Netflix.
If you were a kid who grew up reading lots and lots of fairy tales (and now you do the same for your kids) - this movie will definitely bring back some fond memories and make tou feel good after watching it.
The scenes and the atmosphere were simply mesmerising and magical.
It was an enjoyable experience!
I hereby include this movie in my Christmas movie list!
Wait no longer, make yourselves a cup of cocoa n sink in to a wonderful experience of Russia in the 1900s.
If you were a kid who grew up reading lots and lots of fairy tales (and now you do the same for your kids) - this movie will definitely bring back some fond memories and make tou feel good after watching it.
The scenes and the atmosphere were simply mesmerising and magical.
It was an enjoyable experience!
I hereby include this movie in my Christmas movie list!
Wait no longer, make yourselves a cup of cocoa n sink in to a wonderful experience of Russia in the 1900s.
The film "Silver Skates", of course, is not a masterpiece, which I will watch and re-watch, but once it was interesting, touching and heartwarming in some places, silly and ridiculous in others, completely implausible in others...
The film deserves four points, one viewing, of course, but it lacked something, probably, soulfulness...
The film leaves a couple of phrases in my memory, one of which is in the title of this review, and the other is this - "I don't know what I love more: your generosity or your wisdom"...
The film leaves a couple of phrases in my memory, one of which is in the title of this review, and the other is this - "I don't know what I love more: your generosity or your wisdom"...
A fairytale. An adventure drama based on a Russian book
It is about a boy who joins a gang of ice skating pickpockets and meets an aristocratic girl and they fall in love, testing their love from social classes.
The typical story that he entertains.
Quality.
Entertaining The well recreated era, wonderful costumes and production values.
Good performances.
You easily get hooked on the characters.
Just a slight nude.
Good effects, just one moment is not fully achieved, just like action stunts.
It speaks of love, of fighting for who we want to be, of breaking the system, of breaking schemes, it even has feminist touches.
A wonderful Christmas fairy tale.
The typical story that he entertains.
Quality.
Entertaining The well recreated era, wonderful costumes and production values.
Good performances.
You easily get hooked on the characters.
Just a slight nude.
Good effects, just one moment is not fully achieved, just like action stunts.
It speaks of love, of fighting for who we want to be, of breaking the system, of breaking schemes, it even has feminist touches.
A wonderful Christmas fairy tale.
Melodrama. Well, that was the last time I went to the cinema in the coronavirus year 2020, which left far from the best impressions. Let's hope that everything will turn out better in the New Year. Something carried me, it happens, we return to the subject of our conversation today, namely to the new brainchild of the Cinema Foundation and the master Nikita Mikhalkov, which turned out to be interesting and even watchable, which is even more surprising. And I went to the picture because of the trailer, which was cut so crookedly that it was not clear what the movie was about. But this was enough to interest me, and here is my brief opinion - Historical melodrama in snowy Petersburg. The picture has both pluses and minuses, and now I will tell you about them, so make some tea and sit back.
So the pros:
1. The story told - if we omit some points (let's talk about them in the minuses), then we have before us an ordinary love story of an ordinary proletarian Matthew and a representative of the noble aristocracy Alice, against the historical background of St. Petersburg on Christmas Eve 1900. The picture is disguised as a historical drama, an adventure and an adventurous action movie, but don't be fooled - this is a pure melodrama about the love of a girl and a guy from two social strata, even more - from two worlds. Romance here does not look fake, it develops gradually, drawing the viewer into itself. The ending is more than predictable, without surprises. The laws of the genre, as they say. He quite suited me, because I followed the heroes and they were nice to me.
2. Snow-covered St. Petersburg - the picture was filmed at the scene of events, and how nice it is to see familiar objects on the screen, which not only have seen with my own eyes, but also touched them. And also winter is a magical time of the year when the whole earth is covered with snow, and the frost on the windows of houses draws bizarre patterns that you really don't want to wash. Peter looks amazing, luxurious, gorgeous, almost like a fairy tale. I can't help myself, because I love Petersburg and winter!
3. Entourage - costumes, scenery, worldview of that time. All this is delivered at a high level and works exactly as it should. Socialist ideas, stratification of society, the emerging conflict of tradition and modernity, the eternal conflict of fathers and children, magic sessions and much more. All this does not look completely superfluous here, but on the contrary - it justifies the transfer of the melodrama to this historical period.
So the cons:
1. Age limit - no gentlemen, this picture is not "6+", because it contains curses with the letter "s" in relation to the female sex, as well as a scene of intimacy between doves in love. The picture, in this regard, must have a limit of either "12+" or "16+" (the latter is better). Apparently, pictures of domestic production are given such restrictions just like that, at random, well, or the master Mikhalkov is playing naughty again, you wretch!
2. Anti-Sovietism - I was ready for this, but reasonable viewers would have the question "What other anti-Sovietism, a film about the Russian Empire?", And I will explain. The fact is that the hero, in the first half of the picture, joins the "Marxists" - who rob the rich residents of the capital. The picture emphasizes that neither - ideological. But they are not Marxists - they are ordinary bandits who rob the bourgeois and aristocrats only for the sake of satisfying their own needs, but nowhere is it specified that they send expropriated money abroad, for the need for a revolutionary cause. Moreover, all the bandits are shown as good people, but why such persistent the desire to smear the communists in a brown substance? They could not have dragged "Capital" here, but would have been left out as ordinary bandits.
3. Modern dialogues - not respected Roman Kantor (screenwriter of the film) - well, Russian people did not say that in the late nineteenth - early twentieth century, well, what are you going to do. And if the speech of the proletarians even more or less resembles historical, then the nobles and the bourgeoisie are some kind of parody. Except for laughing and beating your head against the wall from what you hear, this does not cause any more reaction. Next time, not respected Roman, before writing a script for a historical picture - work in the archives and read the material so as not to fall into a hole, as it happened here.
4. Logical miscalculations - well, what kind of hedgehog are they coming from everywhere? The hero pursues one goal, then forgets about it, because he saw a beautiful skirt, and the goal is noble and dramatic, and most importantly - everyone understands. This is only the most obvious, and if you look closely, then wow. Okay, I'm kind today, so I will not develop the idea further - I think it is already clear.
5. English governess - I should remind citizen Roman Kantor that the governess in noble families was, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the French, because this language was common among the nobility from the time of Catherine the Great until the October Revolution, it is not for nothing that the majority of white emigrants and nobles they left for France. English was less common.
A little about the main characters:
1. Matvey, performed by Fyodor Fedotov, is an ordinary St. Petersburg worker, without a penny in his heart, forced to work hard on the bourgeoisie. As a result of some drinking, he becomes a member of a daring gang that rips off the rich. I met a beautiful girl by chance - and this was the beginning of a daring and ambitious adventure. A daring, brave and kind guy, who was driven by clear and simple goals at first. Fedor did a good job.
2. Alice performed by Sophia Priss - she is Russian, do not pay attention to the non-native surname, she is from Kurgan. Well, okay, because Sofia plays here a noblewoman - a know-it-all who dreams of a scientific career. A typical example of a family darling, who is "not like everyone else", she does not want to marry a pompous type, she wants to devote her life to science. But this is melodrama, so the ending will be obvious. Sofia played well.
3. Arkady Trubetskoy performed by Kirill Zaitsev is a prince, an officer of the security department, who must neutralize the impudent gang. An example of the young generation of the old aristocracy, but as a person - not very, too licked and does not keep his word. And if I had some hopes, they shattered under one word - "liberal". From that moment on, I longed for his overthrow, for in my eyes he fell below the plinth. Kirill did quite well.
There are many minuses, even more than pluses, but my overall impression of the picture is good. And the minuses lowered the final grade by one point, because there is still nothing more to watch. This picture will not get on the board of honor, will not be an object of imitation. This is a completely ordinary melodrama, only in a historical background, with a bunch of problems. But the viewing is worth it.
As a result, we have a good melodrama in the historical background of snowy St. Petersburg, with a solid script, excellent surroundings, with a bunch of problems and good acting work.
My rating is 6 out of 10 and my recommendation for viewing!
- lyubitelfilmov
- Dec 9, 2020
- Permalink
I was very impressed with the movie, it has a fairytale vibe Beautiful scenery, great costumes and nice story. Russia started to bring a lot of nice movies to the table, finally something else to watch that has values and its not full of politically correctness. Great job russian crew!
- markthepig-94874
- Jun 19, 2021
- Permalink
The views of St. Petersburg alone are reason enough to watch this movie. It is about a gang of petty criminals, who are dexterous at pick-pocketing and ice skating, where one of them becomes involved with a girl from the aristocracy. A predictable story about the other suitor being a count, the father not allowing the talented daughter to study and the daughter finding ways to escape from this all. Nevertheless it is fun to watch. The actors are good, the cinematography is eye catching and the film does not become boring despite it's predictability.
Lack of good morals in this movie is aggravated by the most boring script. Something is starting to happen after one hour into the movie. I give 2 stars for the beautiful views of my hometown. The rest is rubbish.
Frozen, icy St. Petersburg at the end of the 19th century. Astounding grandeur of aristocratic riches facing the starving masses, and not caring very much. Well, we all know what happened 17 years later. This alluring fairytale barely touches upon this, and that makes sense. Fairytales are for escaping not dwelling on unpleasant things. Lavishly produced, beautifully packaged, but perhaps 20-30 minutes too long flick. Even so, nice way to pass equally snowy evening in Minneapolis.
- sergepesic
- Feb 23, 2022
- Permalink
The execution of the movie is brilliant. The plot is not something very exceptional and new but the beautiful cinematography and elegance of the movie make it worth watching. I am so mesmerized by it, the movie just feels like a magical fairytale without actually having any magic. I loved how the makers had given attention to every minute details especially on that skating and robbery part. I really loved this movie, it was a treat to my eyes. I loved all the characters especially Alex.
- ishanidas-30700
- Jun 21, 2021
- Permalink
All things considered a very predictable yet heartwarming story that was about 30 min too long. The cinematography and choreography were quite beautiful. The build up to the ending was out of place in such a frivolous movie.
- Calicodreamin
- Jun 17, 2021
- Permalink
Boy meets girl in St Petersburg, 1900 and sets in motion a really very interesting love story with undertones of feminism. For the most part the story works, but the big surprise in this production is how good the whole period piece looks and plays out. The actors have their work cut out, for this is predominantly an action movie on skates, and the young talented cast go all out to show how good they are. This is the real strength of the movie, rather than the story, which is not entirely new.
The production values are first class and show that the Russians can really put on a good show, but what surprised me again was the marvellous cinematography and fine editing which showed off the skating for maximum impact. This was a film that was carefully thought out and the many skating set pieces are a testimony to that. The acting is excellent and the slightly tongue in cheek feel added to the enjoyment. The feminist undertones to the story only started to surface at the end which was probably just as well because the other aspects of the film are what makes it truly memorable.
The production values are first class and show that the Russians can really put on a good show, but what surprised me again was the marvellous cinematography and fine editing which showed off the skating for maximum impact. This was a film that was carefully thought out and the many skating set pieces are a testimony to that. The acting is excellent and the slightly tongue in cheek feel added to the enjoyment. The feminist undertones to the story only started to surface at the end which was probably just as well because the other aspects of the film are what makes it truly memorable.
End of the XIX century Russian fairy tale in which two people from different social classes meet... one is an ice skating gang member who robs people for living, another one is a princess who reads "The Capital" from Karl Marx, and her father is legally robbing people... while his police beats those who complain!
The cinematography of Russian winter atmosphere was absolutely fabulous. Well developed, fast paced, extra long, historically accurate as it could be, with a touch of the feminist developing at that time around the Court...
Love story in a different setting and with a surreal feeling for most of us who rarely see snow. Beautiful!
The cinematography of Russian winter atmosphere was absolutely fabulous. Well developed, fast paced, extra long, historically accurate as it could be, with a touch of the feminist developing at that time around the Court...
Love story in a different setting and with a surreal feeling for most of us who rarely see snow. Beautiful!
A really fun film to watch. Gorgeous visuals and fun skating...just a fairly average but delightful story!
Como historia está muy bien, es lo bueno, pero se nota la su tinte progresista y socialista, es lo malo.
- patriciosar
- Jun 24, 2021
- Permalink
It was a true fairytale type of movie and very heartwarming.
Made me feel Christmassy although I watched it in June :) Loved the lead actors and thought they were all very believable in their roles.
Made me feel Christmassy although I watched it in June :) Loved the lead actors and thought they were all very believable in their roles.
- managementbykristi
- Jun 22, 2021
- Permalink
- milicko-mijatovic
- Jun 17, 2021
- Permalink
If you don't know French, you miss out on a lot. Most of the scenes that involve French have no subtitle options. It's frustrating! I would have given a higher rating if it weren't for that. The sets, the story, the acting...all good!! It's just that pivotal parts are moot if you don't understand French. Some of the French IS subtitled but clearly important scenes are often not.
It's a rather long movie at over two hours. I do feel the story was well developed as well as all the characters. My favorite parts of the whole movie were the sets and the costumes. Academy award quality! Only the "magician's" make up was bad, in my opinion. But the love story is fairy-tale-esque. Truly worth the watch (if you understand French)!
It's a rather long movie at over two hours. I do feel the story was well developed as well as all the characters. My favorite parts of the whole movie were the sets and the costumes. Academy award quality! Only the "magician's" make up was bad, in my opinion. But the love story is fairy-tale-esque. Truly worth the watch (if you understand French)!
- schwabele-07616
- Feb 9, 2024
- Permalink