SOLEIL TROMPEUR
A film review by al@167-290-33.hexacom.com (al)
Copyright 1994 al@167-290-33.hexacom.com (al)
Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov. With Nikita Mikhalkov, Nadia Mikhalkov, Oleg Menchikov, Ingeborga Dapkounaite. Russia/France, 1993 Genre: drama. 152 minutes.
SOLEIL TROMPEUR was shown in Cannes and at the Montreal Film Fest; I think it did won some prizes, not sure though. By the quality of the film it wouldn't be surprising. SOLEIL TROMPEUR (Deceiving Sun) comes right after "Urga" in Mikhalkov's realisations. And like "Urga," this film got its share of beauty although this time around its emanating from the people inside a rural Russian family in 1936. Mikhalkov (colonel Sergei Kotof) and his daughter are the main characters. The film relates the calm life of a family whose main character is a well-known army colonel, admired by all, the kind of guy that has strong roots in his country while having plentiful of simple and warm human values. Mikhalkov is a strong figure and the rural simplicity emanates from him as easy as it could ever be.
The film got its share of happiness and humour, of light and joyfulness.
But this very nice way of life will slowly give way to a terrible drama as the smiles becomes forced instead of spontaneous, as the arrival of a young and aggressive, former boyfriend of colonel Kotov's young wife stirs up feelings.
SOLEIL TROMPEUR is a film of great human force. While it lasts two and a half hours, it is never boring and does not have to rely on action, special F/X and the like to maintain interest. We share the warmth displayed, the intrigue and the fatal conclusion.
Alain al@hexacom.com
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