Original title: Белое солнце пустыни
Year: 1970
Country: Soviet Union
Region code: A
Contents: Blu-Ray
EAN: 850066568576
Image: 1.37:1 (1080p)
HDR: -
Audio: Russian
Subtitles: English
Age rating: Not Rated
Genre: Adventure
Cast: Anatoliy Kuznetsov, Kakhi Kavsadze
Director: Vladimir Motyl
Synopsis:
“Have you been here long?” quips laconic, seemingly un-killable Red Army soldier Fyodor to a man he's just discovered buried up to the neck in the middle of the desert. Director Vladimir Motyl's surreal action classic is arguably the most entertaining of the Soviet “Osterns” inspired by films like STAGECOACH, HIGH NOON and 1960s Spaghetti Westerns (and certainly by Kurosawa's YOJIMBO as well.) Set during the Russian Civil War, the story follows Fyodor (Anatoliy Kuznetsov) tramping across the sands of Turkmenistan and desperate to get home to his wife -- when he's diverted into guarding a harem of Muslim women caught in a struggle between a renegade Red Army unit and local Basmachi guerillas led by Abdullah (Kakhi Kavsadze). Filled with endlessly-quotable dialogue and song lyrics -- "A knife is good for he who has it -- and it's bad for he who doesn't at the right moment" and "No luck in dying, I'll have luck in love" are two gems --, WHITE SUN is as visually striking as Leone's A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, with his resourceful hero waging a one-man battle against the bandit chieftain and his army. (It also has a surprisingly feminist theme with Fyodor encouraging the niqab-wearing women to take control of their destinies: “Comrade women, the revolution has set you free!” he exhorts them.) The best comparison, though, may be to Georgiy Daneliya's sci-fi masterpiece KIN-DZA-DZA! (also released by Deaf Crocodile): both films are about Everyman Russians trapped in alien desert landscapes, and rather than freaking out, responding in the most matter-of-fact ways to whatever misfortunes they encounter. One of the most popular Soviet films ever made, WHITE SUN has been beautifully restored by Mosfilm for its first-ever US Blu-ray release through Deaf Crocodile, in association with Seagull Films.
Extras:
