Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin

A very good film, which was made at a somewhat inappropriate time, by authors from whom something different was simply expected. Situating a Czech film from the first half of the 90s in a Soviet environment was quite daring and did not pay off commercially. The atmosphere is somewhat Chekhovian and the humor is based on the absurdity of the environment and circumstances. The poverty of the Soviet village at the beginning of the 40s is evident, and the desperate political conditions are best highlighted in the scene of the arrest by the Soviet secret military counterintelligence, when the person in question thinks he has fallen into the hands of the Germans and shouts that he has allowed the murder of a large number of Soviet citizens, including communists. Compared to the book, the film is more reconciling in its nature, as the book is simply more hopeless and darker. Compared to current Czech film productions, this film is a real treasure. The cast is a pleasant refreshment, considering the participation of Russian actors. Overall impression: 85%. (18.06.2006)