Sunstroke (2014) User Reviews

It's an allegory

[freerange18 · 7/10 · 5 June 2022]

I won't give away the "key" -- that's for the viewer to discover -- but until I figured it out for myself, about 2/3 of the way through, I was so exasperated by this movie that I was tempted to just give up on it and quit. I thought it was incoherent and disjointed, and actually got peeved since I thought it was screwing with me.

But THEN... I figured out who/what the young officer in white, and the various appearances of the attractive woman, represented... and my whole experience changed. By the end of the movie, I was devastated. The lingering final image and text -- and the song sung over it -- left me trembling and weeping. The whole thing haunted me for days, then weeks, afterward.

I intend to watch it again from the beginning, now that I know what it's about. But I am waiting a bit, since I still haven't recovered from that first experience.

This is a very different kind of movie. It's NOT a straight story/narrative, and expecting such will just leave you frustrated. Mikhalkov is a sort of poet, who has used seemingly unconnected images to evoke feelings and impressions. He uses visual/emotional images to conceal deep realities of history. And, for this viewer at least, realities of humanity in general. For though the movie is concerned with 20th-century Russia/USSR, it speaks to me, as an American in 2022, of a more general truth, one we should all take to heart as our own glittering Western consumer culture heads for collapse: Concealed beneath superficially beautiful things (and hoo-boy, are the "in-color" parts of this movie a sensual feast for the eyes!) can lie the ugliest horrors of which humans are capable.

Tedious

[astosic · 4/10 · 6 July 2015]

Drags on and on and onnnnn. No reason for this to have been a three hour movie. The storyline of the tragic fate of Menshevik/White Army prisoners during the 1920 Red Terror is diminished by the lead character's recurring, saccharine reminiscences of a one night stand in 1907. That plot line could have been reduced to three short memory flashbacks and been just as effective. The war plot line suffered, as it was not given enough depth; unless you really know your Russian history, the nuances of who the prisoners are, what this mixed group of officers, soldiers and Cossacks represents is otherwise lost on the viewer. A single poignant gesture by one of the Bolshevik characters has no meaning, based on how this story has been told, alone. Three hours. Three hours of predictability. And Sunstroke? Yes, we get it - you did Burnt by the Sun. Bravo. Too bad about this latest effort, Nikita.

Like watching two movies forcefully squished into one

[katarinaxp · 3/10 · 11 May 2015]

While the movie was indeed visually beautiful, almost stunning even, I was left disappointed and annoyed, feeling like I watched 2 movies squeezed into one. I won't give away any plot points: Through the movie we watch the main character's past and present events unfold. However, the past could've been a standalone film, the present as well. The two segments weren't connected by a single detail almost to the very end of the movie, and even then that detail is so minuscule and irrelevant we could've easily gone without it.

When it comes out on DVD, I'd watch it again, selectively watching just scenes from the past, then just scenes from the future, treating myself to 2 movies, instead of a forced ONE movie.

Masterpiece

[morrigan-47977 · 10/10 · 26 August 2021]

How can you include the magnitude of the beauty, cinematography, sweeping epic settings, historical detail, artistic touches, acting nuances, and encompass the soul of the Russian experience? This director has done so with this movie. From Eisenstein's stairway scene, to peasant life touches, to the death of aristocratic Russia, the rise of automatomic socialism, timeless romance and human connection, he covers it all with in depth captures of each moment in detail. I have watched thousands of movies. The masterpieces stand out, the movies that perfectly express a point of view, a story, an idea, a character, or the actor becomes the character so convincingly that the movie becomes a classic. Sunstroke is a masterpiece-Bravo.

I wish I spent time better

[oleg-artaxerx · 1/10 · 21 September 2015]

Please! 3 hrs of stills and close-ups switching to panoramas? The stroller on steps of stair? Message to viewers that there was soviet film director Eisentien about 90 years ago with exact stroller? I wonder who will be interested to watch this movie? I guess it is so-called "made for Oscar" type? Honestly, very hard to watch, maybe need to re-edit to shorter one say less than 20 minutes to bring the plot. Oh, BTW, there's no plot or story at all. More likely kaleidoscopes of unrelated events. Torture for brain. Actors play like it was their first time: armature and emotionless. But if you're into "dark Russian pseudo art" - then its your movie.

division is not the problem, unison is

[beejames · 8/10 · 13 June 2015]

This movie is actually two different stories. One is Bunin's short story Sunstroke which is shown in a beautiful and poetic way in the movie. It represents the past, old Russia, the time Bunin never dropped in his mind. The other is taken from his famous anti Bolshevism book Cursed Days. This part is shown in the movie, in a wet and muddy way, about a group of old officers waiting for their destiny after signed their declarations of surrender.

It is understandable that the director tried to divide these two stories. Old is good, elegant, beautiful, lovely, honestly. New is chaotic, dirty, brutal, empty. Although one may not fully agree with it, but this is what Ivan Bunin's understanding of Bolshevism Revolution and the opinion is widely accepted after the collapse of Soviet Russia. Nikita Mikhalkov's most famous movies are almost about the same attitude.

But the director also used his movie to pay tribute to old Soviet movie traditions. There's an astonishing shot of a baby carriage rolling downsteps, which is obviously something reminding Eisenstein. There's also certain images reminding Bondalchuk.

So far there's no problem with the two stories go in parallel. But at the very end the stories tried to reach a point of combination. This became so hard to believe that the climax felt a little bit strange.

Still it's a great movie. Despite its length, the storytelling speed is extremely well that one hardly felt the time's gone. It might also be one element the director had in mind. Time went without raising attention, old time went like river never comes back.

The sweet life before the Russian Revolution and its aftermath

[hof-4 · 4/10 · 19 July 2021]

This is in fact two movies shown alternately and loosely connected (one character figures in both). The first is based in a story by Ivan Bunin. The scenario is a paddlewheel steamer plying the Volga in 1907 and the characters the Lieutenant and the Strange Woman. The Lieutenant parades around in his stain proof white uniform and seduces (or is seduced by) the Strange Woman into a one-night stand which is overly romanticized. There are stops in river villages where the locals live in dignity and bearded Jews, dressed ilike Tevye stroll around without attracting undue attention.

The time frame of the second story is 1920, just as the defeated White Army commanded by General Wrangel has evacuated the Crimea and the south of Russia. Several hundred White officers are left in a prison camp in he peninsula and two evil Bolshevik commissars (one the Hungarian Béla Kun, the other the Russian Rosalia Zalkind, both real characters) are carrying out a devilish, complicated and time consuming plot to dispose of the officers. We are duly informed that both Zalkind and Kun are Jews. This story is also based on material by Bunin and consists mostly of endless, repetitive discussions among the captive officers. Subject: how the idyllic Russian Empire fell apart, Bolshevik atrocities. And the senselessness of violence. No reference to White atrocities or to the massive material support given by the Allied Powers to the Whites, plus direct invasion of Russian territory by British, Canadian, Italian, Japanese, French and American forces and proxy armies like the Czechoslovak Legion. Without this imperialist outrage, the Russian Civil War could have been shortened by years and millions of deaths (lamented at the end of the movie) could have been avoided. Also, the subsequent Bolshevik government might have been less paranoid toward the West, which opens fascinating historic possibilities.

As to the movie: gorgeous cinematography, excellent acting, but Bunin's material is not compelling and some scenes are slow and extended beyond reason. Boredom rears its ugly head, and the final feeling is one of emptiness.

Amazing masterpiece

[talivcirx · 10/10 · 7 December 2015]

To my mind, it's one of greatest movies in this century. It's about man's tragedy in personal life and death of his country. He asks again and again in the first scene of this film: how this happened? The answer is: each of us influence history (as I understand this) - our actions, even thoughts and desires, Main hero (Poruchik - Martinsh Kalita) is indifferent about all except his individual desire. He can't make the right choice in his love and he can't come round until the moment of his death. It's too late for him, too late for his homeland. Bt film isn't didactic, this movie has exceptional artistic values. Director Nikita Mikhalkov knows enormous number of sophisticated nuances of human soul as professional secrets of cinema. The artistic result is outstanding. The cast is very successful, music is very touching, photography is splendid. Mikhalkov's enemies tries to denigrate him very hard. But it's method of communists and fascists - to assess art in politic terms. Everybody has rights to reject political views of Mikhalkov. But reject the great art of politic isn't democracy, it's totalitarianism. "Sunstroke" contains nothing denying human rights, humanism, etc.

Dr. Zhivago, move over...

[cdrpsu · 10/10 · 28 November 2020]

...for this beautiful and well-woven film. Stunning cinematography, beautifully subtle acting, and a great telling of a side of the Russian revolution unknown to most western audiences. One of those movies where you remember almost every scene.

By the way, the illicit love affair is the most well-done scene of it's type I've ever seen. Not only you you feel the different passions, you understand them.

And the second viewing is even more enjoyable than the first.

I purchased and will watch many times.

Probably the best movie by Mikhalkov

[ugvilis · 10/10 · 5 December 2015]

Probably the very best film by great director Nikita Mikhalkov. Almost three hours of great cinema but each time I see "Sunstroke" with great interest.It's a magic realism of genius, indeed. His political opponents are trying to make negative opinion about Mikhalkov and his recent movies. However genial art stands higher than politic ambitions. This movie offers almost such variety of colors as reality. It's poetic, humorous, tragic, philosophical, sorrowful, etc. This variety is shown with exceptional talent and professionalism. Great photography, great music, fantastic cast with rather unknown actors.

Martins Kalita is very impressive in main role. Especially he's touching when listens the strange woman singing aria of Dalilah. This scene with his playing recalls me the most outstanding actors of past - such as Marlon Brando. Highly recommended.

This movie is underrated

[ruimameneses · 8/10 · 6 January 2019]

Excellent movie, excellent direction and acting, fantastic scenaries and photograph. Unfairly Underrated in IMDM probably by American pie watchers

Read Bunin first

[papaioan · 10/10 · 19 January 2022]

Sublime fusion of two of Bunin's works, with beautifully achieved juxtaposed cinematography. The viewer is put in the shoes of the protagonist's plight while bitterly recollecting the most hopeful moment in his past.

Surprisingly Amazing

[bpktzfbj · 10/10 · 4 September 2023]

As an English speaker, I have never been so blown away by a film with having to read the subtitles. This masterpiece of a film will surprise you and inspire you and even make you hold your loved ones closer. It is filled with characters to love and to hate their guts. If you get a chance this is one movie to watch with your loved one.

This is not your typically love story. Can't say enough about this humorous and timeless piece. It has something for everyone, history, drama, and scenes where you will bust out laughing. It is shot so brilliantly, please, please make more of these movies Mr. Director.

Heartbreaking

[angelosdaughter · 10/10 · 22 December 2021]

Insight into a part of history most of us have never heard of: what happened to the white Russian troops after the Bolsheveiks won. I didn't find it tedious. Junker didn't get to live a life. The scene in which the woman watching him sleep. Is caressing his hair, saying that she now knows what he was like as a little boy coupled with the scene of him alone in the rented room sobbing on the bed bring home just how young he was, and how far from home. The boy he befriended in the village who, despite his appearance was well-educated was a symbol of the future that Junker would not see. The boy's determination to return Junker's watch even to carrying it as an adult until he reunited it with its owner, and standing on the boat as it passes the ship saluting Junker who was hailing him was poignant. It is posssible that the adult was now a Bolsheveik.