Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36960 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-01-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Color, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Russian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Customer Reviews

The Artist and The Layman
I disagree with most reviewers, this movie isn't about politics, Russia, etc at all.

The movie is about the Artist and the Layman, about materialism and spirituality, about creatures who crawl and creatures who fly, about the weak sensitive soul and the strong but dull soul. These two intersect, influence each other and form a paradoxial partnership. The two main characters go through a 180 degree transformation and go back.

I think it's one of the most amazing works of the Russian cinama in the 90's. Petr Mamonov, a true musician, is playing himself and his performance is stellar.

Russia's painful transition away form communism
Pavel Lounguine's "Taxi Blues" personifies the painful transition of Russia from communism to whatever it is they have ended up having over there in two men who have one of those chance meetings that changes one of them forever. Pyotr Zajchenko as Shchlikov represents the old Russia: he is hard working, rather dour and brutish, and misses communism. While driving his taxi cab one night he meets Liocha (Pyotr Mamonov), symbolizing the new Russia: he is at least irresponsible if not insane, an alcoholic, and a musician obviously influence by the decadent West. Their "friendship" forces Shchlikov to reassess his entire life. Even if you do not read "Taxi Blues" as an allegory, it is a compelling tale of a man forced to face brutal truths. Certainly a depressing film, but the emotions are justified because nobody every promised life would be fair.

Oh, it's not THAT Bad...
Yes, I agree that this movie is rather depressing, but still has some merits. Americans would especially dislike its level of Over Realism. As they say in Hollywood, it is like "Leaving Las Vegas" meets "The People vs Larry Flynt," if you can imagine that. In a very strange way it trys to be Patriotic to the old Soviet culture, as it conflicts with Post-Soviet western ideals. At many times the conflicts become rather humourous and insightful. The attempt to portray Americans in this movie totally falls apart with the fake stereotype accents and personalities, but again it adds humour to see how others view us. I think it would be difficult to understand this movie if you have not studied Fine Art or Literature. It follows the Classical Romantic lines of 2 desperate characters, lost in a world of innocence, while everything falls apart around them. Despite the realism, they are not able to see the reality of their own existence, and in turn become frustrated by it.