A Ural Film Studio/Buzzmar production. Executive producer, Yuri Torokhov. Co-producer, Olga Maximova, Konstantin Vail. Directed by Evan Brenner. Screenplay, editing, Danny and Evan Brenner.
Sasha Pasha Ivanov Natasha Sasha Melinkova Misha Georgi Blashov Kostya Ilia Tregubov Slava Genya Ozharko
The Riddle," Evan Brenner's feature debut, aspires to the charmed circle of the great international childhood films by Truffaut, Malle, Hallstrom and Tarkovsky, but instead comes across as an extremely self-conscious, small-scale exploration of a Russian boy coming to terms with his mother's sudden death. Most notable aspect of this Russian-lingo pic is that it was made in Russia by an American indie director. However, despite a strong central performance by Pasha Ivanov, modest overall impact and familiarity of the subject may present obstacles for theatrical distribution.
Set in and around the city of Perm, yarn is told from the perspective of Sasha (Ivanov), a boisterous 10-year-old boy, who lives with his drunken father, a prison guard. Still haunted by the sudden disappearance of his mother when he was a child, Sasha tries to gather bits and pieces of info about the circumstances of her death, which is surrounded with a veil of mystery.
Sasha's only meaningful bond is with his next-door neighbor, Natasha (Sasha Melinkova), a shy girl with whom he explores the countryside, sitting for hours on the banks of the river. Things change dramatically when Sasha is taken to a state orphanage, where he befriends some boys, and together they set on a life of exploit and pranks as befit their ages.
Though set in Russia, story brings to mind numerous childhood films that have charted similar territory. Hence, Sasha and Natasha's friendship echoes the two children (one orphan) in Rene Clement's intensely moving war-set drama, "Forbidden Games," and the adventures that the orphans engage in, particularly the railroad sequences, recall Rob Reiner's boyhood pic "Stand by Me."
A child confronting a traumatic death also has been examined better and deeper in "My Life as a Dog" and the more recent French pic "Ponette." These resemblances not only highlight the lack of fresh insights in the script, they also make Brenner's dreary film pallid in comparison. Even in its lyrical approach and gloomy ambiance, "The Riddle" simply shows too much self-awareness of its genre.
Still, film has some heart-wrenching moments, as when Sasha is locked in a prison cell by his father, and, later, when he's forced to embrace the truth, as told by a cruel peer, about the true manner of his mother's death.
Selected from among 200 kids, Ivanov has a lovely face and tender blue eyes that register strongly the emotionally painful journey forced upona child by the adult world.
Richard Dallert's soft, lyrical lensing, a real orphanage as a setting and non-pro cast (including many orphans) enhance considerably pic's authentic feel.
Camera (color), Richard Dallert; music, Danny Brenner; additional theme music, Rob Todd; production design, Sergei Dultsev; sound, Slava Liskov; assistant director. Rosina Lardieri; casting, Zoya Spivakovsky. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival, Sept. 10, 1996. Running time: 87 MIN.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com
Date in print: Mon., Nov. 4, 1996