1. Russian and Soviet film directors were always engaged in overt or covert dialogue with their Western colleagues. Discuss this phenomenon of cinematic communication / rivalry; bring certain examples of thematic interaction between the two mediums that, in your opinion, can testify to such a dialogue in art.

 

2. Think of gender roles in the five films that you have watched so far: what kind of relationships between men and women do we observe (think, for example, in terms of emotional (in)stability, exploitation, abuse, romantic clichs, and so on). Is there anything culturally unique about this theme as represented in Russian cinematic tradition? Use specific examples from the films.  

 

3. Some films that you watched in class showcase virtuosic cinematic techniques that not only defined the era of cinema in Russia but also influenced the style of major film schools and even contemporary international directors. Try to provide as many examples of this phenomenon as possible, citing both the movies you watched for this class and beyond it. You are welcome to use parallel screenshots (embedded in your Word document) to make a compelling case.

 

4. Who is the main generic hero of the Russian films that you have watched so far (by the Russian I do not mean specifically ethnic origin, because our analysis includes Cuban and Armenian motifs absorbed by the Russian cinema)? Is this hero a creative artist, a lonely man in search of deeper meanings in life, a lost comedic persona, or perhaps something else? What are his characteristics? Is there anything peculiar about a Russian hero if compared to films that you are used to watch?