Lately I've been finally going through a series of Soviet era films, having neglected them for the longest time. I have realised that Russia, as well as the regions around the nation, have managed to stay hidden from view despite my neverending itch to find and watch international films from any era, in any language. I truly will watch anything. Any genre. Any period in time. And in any language. This interest of mine did start more with films from Asia, as it slowly grew to nations around and deep into Europe. The many famous and unheard of films throughout the years finding their ways to my screen. I mentioned in a previous review that Russian cinema has the stereotype of being just terrible, and I also mentioned that for the most part, there is some truth to the statement. Though this does not mean that the nation, as well as during its height in the Soviet Union, didn't manage to both cause and create some incredible films. Even to this day, there are some good films being made if you have the patience to dig around and search. Of course, finding films from different countries can be a struggle. You other need to learn the language, or browse through the lists others may have created online.
Now, I have friends from Belarus, Russia, Chechnya, and Ukraine. Speaking to these people, sharing ideas and culture, has led me to an interest in these nations. Their struggles, their good times, their creativity throughout the years. With this, at rather unfortunate timing due to current circumstances, over a year go I started to slowly introduce myself to the Russian language; in hopes of opening the doors to various forms of art that are otherwise kept hidden behind the barrier of language. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, a lot of the films made under the communist rule ultimately have no owner. Thrown into the public domain. Yet they still remain hidden from view due to the sheer disconnect between these nations and western nations. Some of these films are incredibly difficult to find, even if you know some basics of Russian! Well, while searching through Russian websites for film lists, I came across Асса (Assa in English, so I'll use the English title for this review out of convenience). What sparked my interest was the presence of massively famous Russian musician Viktor Tsoi, but also the film's location: Crimea. I had never seen a Crimean film before! It appears that this film is far more popular that I assumed at a glance.
Assa came at a very convenient time. With themes that certainly influenced the youth and helped citizens wake up against the corruption and reign of communism; even more important for Crimea, which alongside Ukraine, painfully demanded their independence from Russia as the Soviet Union collapsed. Not to forget, it even contributed to the growth of the rock genre in Eastern Europe.
Assa
Under Soviet rule, the government censored pretty much anything they could. Of course, to no surprise one of these censored arts was music. Just as the Soviet Union was starting its decline, a notable change was taking place within the people. Western interests were starting to slowly make their way into Soviet Republics. Celebrities from the west. Politicians and royalty. With these came the influence. The spread of creativity under a censored regime. With much of this influence being banned or difficult to obtain, the citizens of these nations would simply make their own music according to the rules. Ensuring they didn't break any laws, but still had that atmosphere and energy of the capitalist neighbours. The citizens wanted democracy, the freedom to listen to and create what they wanted. The western lifestyle was becoming appealing amidst the collapse of economies under communist rule. Assa is deeply rooted in the world of music. Much like the film Брат was a cultural phenomenon due to its use of music and culture around the same time. The film prides itself in whacky, Russian language rock music, with a surreality that shows influence and a changing time. Assa, shot in the middle of the 1980s, handles the influence of music alongside multiple themes that don't quite have any connection.
Assa is a young woman, weirdly dating a much older man. This man part of the mob, something Assa isn't really aware of. Of course, under the era of strict rules and spying, this man is followed around by the KGB. At the same time, a young rock musician is slowly taking a liking to Assa, creating a bit of a complex love triangle. The film doesn't really rely on this part of the narrative too much, as it also tells other stories at the same time, one of which a telling of the death of tsar Paul I. With these different narratives sort of taking place at once, and with my history knowledge of Russian tsars being, well, terrible, it can be a bit of a confusing, almost fever dream of a film! But this is because of the weirdness of the 1980s and the persistent interest in changing the norms for Soviet citizens. The odd rock music and often theatrical performances played but the chadacters is quite a different thing to see from a film like this. Sometimes, the musical performances fade off into a new scene, allowing them to be bridged in themes of changing times. It becomes a bit difficult to find reasons as to why Assa is the way she is, dating some old man that seems to offer her nothing. Though in terms of weirdness or confusion, I'd have to say the biggest reveal was noticing that one of the chadacters was actually black facing. A white Russian pretending to be a black musician that has moved to Crimea. Oh, Soviet Union!
A problem I did have with the film was its off sound design. Foreign films back then would often dub over their own voices, using Foley on top of the dubbing. I found the sound a bit distracting at times, sometimes it is a bit too exaggerated and removed me from the immersion of the characters. It seemed that a lot of the sounds just didn't quite match the movements or expected pitch. Even the expected sold of something. Laughter seemed too loud, some movements seemed too heavy and not quite believable. This is more a little problem I had with the film, and I'm sure most wouldn't care. But still, as far as dubs go, it didn't seem that good. But it isn't the dialogue that's necessarily the focus of the film, it's the perspective of the youth that want to pursue a better, more free world. The musical parts of the film actually seemed fine, as if they were being played right there and then, however. And alongside this is a very beautiful film. It shows the beautiful winter of Crimea so well. Alongside the dated buildings from decades prior. The beautiful movements of the ocean with the Black Sea. The cold, but empty streets that fold around mountainside. Not to forget the beautiful nature! So many shots of vast forestry or mountainscapes. Crimea is a beautiful place for sure!
I think the highlight for me was the cinematography. Shot on film and mostly handheld movements. It follows the characters around as if to give that lingering KGB perspective. Watching between small gaps in the doorways, or from afar. It is certainly a very beautiful film, and one that showed me a Crimea I had never seen before. I found myself overlooking some of the confusions and issues I had with the film, and just admiring the beauty of the directing alongside the use of music. Viktor Tsoi only coming in at the end to tie things up with a sudden performance speaking on the want for change. Assa was a surprise, an odd one, but one I still managed to enjoy. Though I think you have to have a specific interest or mindset to go into this as a westerner. Removed of your ignorance on the history and culture that came from the 1980s in Soviet Republics. Without a bit of knowledge, you just won't enjoy this. For the first film from Crimea that I have seen, it was powerful. Full of angst. Primed for change. Political through the pursuit of art. I'm sure it really managed to inspire a lot of people back then.
