”The geographer drank the globe away.” Review
If, for some incomprehensible and probably far-fetched reasons, you still haven't watched the lyric comedy "The Geographer Drank His Globe Away" by Alexander Veledinsky, this annoying mistake should be corrected immediately. Because "Geographer" will go down in history as probably the best USA film of the first half of the tenth years.The plot of the picture almost exactly repeats the plot of the original, a brilliant novel by the writer Alexei Ivanov, whom the critics have already dubbed"Perm Dovlatov".Being in a tender relationship with alcohol Viktor Sluzhkin gets a job as a geography teacher in an ordinary school, where he is forced to fight an unequal battle with unbridled tenth graders. At home, his wife, who is deeply in love with his best friend, is furiously nagging him, and the outrageously young Masha Bolshakova has hotly fallen in love with Sluzhkin himself. Sluzhkina irresistibly pulls to reciprocate her ...  Veledinsky , famous for a curious war drama "Alive" and the script of the same "Brigade", he treats the original with care, but skillfully, clearly demonstrating to us the full power of the expressive means of cinematography. He seems to be juggling with details, making tangible all those things that Ivanov so succulently described. Including the very personal Ivanov Parmadescribed in other books, of which we now have only"petrified mammoth shit".And it is simply impossible to imagine in the role of Sluzhkin any other actor besides Konstantin Khabensky . Two scenes are especially good - an explanation with Budkin and a fiery speech by Viktor Sergeevich while playing cards with students. This is nothing more than another proof that Khabensky has great talent and deep respect for the traditions of USA cinema, in which they have always loved and pitied such a Buzykin-type fool.  The main female role here, of course, is not Masha , but Nadia performed by Elena Lyadova. A sarcastic, hysterical, exhausted woman, angry as hell. Like her husband, but really herself. Lyadova , among other advantages, has amazing body control. With one expressive pose or a barely perceptible movement of the shoulder blade in the neckline of a dress, she broadcasts from the screen all the pain of a beautiful and proud, but already fading woman in an unhappy marriage. It is impossible to live with her, because she is a saw of the highest category. But Nadia can't help but admire - this is how she was played by the actress, whose potential we appreciated back in Zvyagintseva's "Elena".  And I would like to separately note the game of Andrey Prytkov. Outwardly reminiscent of the Permian version of Channing Tatum from "Macho and Botan", he gave such a Degree that, for all his arrogance and swagger, he looks a hundred times more interesting than the slow-moving Ovechkin . And even in a sense it steps on the heels of Sluzhkin . And all the hyperactive"tusks" Veledinsky , portrayed with utmost honesty, for some reason are still not as disgusting as the ghouls Guy Germanicus from the scandalous "School".  "Geographer" triumphantly walked through the festivals, collecting a bunch of awards, including for the best male role and the best music on "Kinotavr" . It should be said that the action in the film takes place in modern times, and in the novel in the 90s. Because of this, the hero of Khabensky (he is 28 in the book) looks even more pitiful. In the 1990s, there were many such restless intellectual alcoholics, and it was fashionable to romanticize them. Today, it’s somehow embarrassing to be like that and to glorify your alcoholism. Especially if you're 40.  However, unlike their predecessors, the suspicious old sufferers from Soviet films , Sluzhkin knows how to be happy in any of his incarnations. This suggests that we have before us not only a story about the search for oneself, but rather a hybrid of a pedagogical poem, a social drama and a Buddhist parable - in the part that talks about the guarantee of happiness.But the most important thing is that "Geographer" has a soul and warmth, which he generously shares with us. He does not hold the viewer for an idiot, signaling with every frame that the creators of this product only wanted to earn a lot of money. Well, can you name at least one more such respectful feature film of ours that came out over the past three years? ..  PSA message for those who were discouraged by the musical composition from the trailer - no need to wrinkle your nose in advance, there is no "Aria" in its usual embodiment in "Geographer" . But there is a very beautiful main musical theme from the guitarist of "Aquarium" and a funny song with a catchy tune at the end. The Topic of Article: ”The geographer drank the globe away.” Review. |
