A little
history
The russian action movie of the 90s was
highly influenced by the historical and cultural context of that time. During
the early 90s – during and after the fall of USSR – there was a huge wave of
criminality throughout the country. Almost all goverment structures lost all
their influence and the power came into the hands of criminal group (bandits).
These groups had specific territories of influence. For example, Moscow was controlled
by 6 bandit groups. The criminal groups not only owned their own businesses and property but
also “roofed” (“крышовать” [krishovat'] - from the russian word
“крыша' [krisha] - “roof” - controlled,
defended from other criminal groups, collected money from – usually monthy)
most organizations (however small) that were in their zone/territory of
influence. It is not a secret that those memebers of bandit
organizations/groups that survived the 90s – for it is obvious that some of
them didn't, a lot of conflicts between groups were solved with viloence – have
afterwards become successful businessmen. This does not, however, mean that all Russian businessmen have a crimial background, although there is always a
possibility of that being the case.
The
depiction of those times in film in literature has specific features. We can
see that in film and literature banditism is in a way romantisied. The
protagonist (a lot of times a member of a criminal group) becomes a
pseudo-romantic hero – individualistic and lonely, overcoming hardships,
abolishing old idols and searching for new ones.
The
protagonist
Analyzing (or simply watching) a russian
action movie we have to keep in mind that it is in a lot of ways different from
the classical Hollywood action film. However, I will not focus here on the
differences and will not make a comparative analysis, but will briefly
describe the main characteristics of the russian action film.
The main hero (protagonist) of the action
movie does not exist outside of action and movement — only in actions he obtains his character and appearance. In the Russian action film
there is always only one protagonist, there can not be two, three or a group of
them – this fact correlates with the main characteristic of the hero – although
he is the main focus point of the story and everything revolves around him, he
exists separately from his surrondings, he stands out, there is no ahrmony
between him and the world he lives in.
The hero
usually doesn't have a family – he could be an orphan – but even if he does,
there is never a father, but just the melanholic image of his “greyhaired
mother” (“the mother whose hair turned grey too soon” - from the work of Dubin
- a russian researcher of cultural studies). Despite this the construction of
the personage does not obtain a shade of weakness but seems stronger and even
more selfsufficient.
A very
important element of the russian action film is the presence of the “teacher”
or mentor that, in a way, substitutes the father that the hero never had. The
teacher is a figure of power and strength, he is the moral idol of the
protagonist. The teacher does not have power over the protagonist, but only
helps him to discover his enormous inner source of will.
The fact
that the protagonist has a moral idol does not mean he cannot (and will not)
destroy/abolish those morals and idols. The protagonist of the action film can
do anything – space and time are in his hands, the events in the movie only
happen because of him. Accourding to Dubin - “...there is no limit to his
abilities (capasities)...”. The protagonist is fighting against the evil of the
world, he wants to destroy the heart of it.. and we know he can do it.
Diana Goderich
Diana is a 21 years old student Russia, Moscow. She's polish, russian, ukrainian and cuban - all in one. In 2008 she graduated from Physic-Mathematics School of Novosibirsk State University - a boarding school in the middle of Siberia, specializing in technical education. She has a bachelor degree in the Russian State University for the Humanities in 2012 - specialization "History and Theory of Culture". Now she studies a Master in Cultural Studies in Europe (Belgium) at the Catholic University of Leuven.
Diana is a guestblogger for Lumière. Want to read more? Want to write something yourself? Let us know: lumière.radioscorpio@gmail.com!
