Vostochnaya elegiya (1996) User Reviews

Gorgeous

[sprengerguido · 10/10 · 7 July 2005]

This wonderful visual poem unites many of Sokurov's best traits. Like most of his films, it is less about plot than the unfolding of a specific situation. Here, an observer who merely appears as a silhouette (though it seems to be Sokurov) travels to an old Japanese town on an island. It is an unearthly place, almost empty, old buildings, mist, probably the afterlife. The observer talks to three souls about their former lives which they see as burdensome and unhappy; but they talk in a light-hearted manner. There is a nocturnal feel to everything, the images have a washed-out quality, like varnished old paintings, and Sokurov deliberately keeps them sometimes out of focus (all trademarks of his); the soundtrack is a marvelous composition of gently howling wind, creaking wood and remote music, some classical, some Russian and Japanese folk. The entire movie is a dreamlike reflection on life and death and the view of the dead upon the living. Absolutely recommended for all who like Sokurov and Eastern European poetic film.

Not for everyone including me

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 9 February 2018]

"Vostochnaya elegiya" or "Oriental Elegy" is a Russian/Japanese co-production from 1996, so this one is already over 20 years old and it was written and directed by Aleksandr Sokurov, who is also the narrator here. The features texts in both languages I just mentioned with Russian obviously being dominant due to the filmmaker's origin and the film's title. It runs for slightly under 45 minutes, so barely makes it into the short film category according to imdb standards. Make sure you got subs if you aren't fluent in Russian. It is a very atmospheric film looking at the visual side, the music, sound effects (from the wind e.g.) and narration that goes along with it. There really isn't a plot in here and the film is more of an experience, so either it will basically do nothing for you or you will like it a lot. I can somehow see the creative approach, even if I don't perceive the narrator's reflecting as such (i.e. true moments of creativity) myself. Nonetheless I also never perceived this as a pretentious film, so it's neither the positive or negative edge for me and as a consequence a very forgettable movie. Sokurov isn't for everybody, that much is safe and with that statement and in relation to this movie here I have to include myself there too. Not recommended as it dragged a lot in my opinion.