Product Details

• Actors: Alexei Arzamastsev, Natasha Borzilova, Andrei Missikhin, Sergei 'Spooky' Olkhovsky, Alexander Ostrovsky
• Directors: Nina Gilden Seavey
• Producers: Nina Gilden Seavey, Barry Rebo, Kalindi Corens, Nobuo Isobe
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Koch Lorber Films
• VHS Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008YGOH
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,856 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Emmy award-winning director Nina Gilden Seavey follows the unique and remarkable course of the young band, capturing an insider’s view of the journey from their homes in Obninsk Russia to an uncertain future in Nashville Tennessee. This critically acclaimed documentary debunks the myth of the overnight sensation and engrosses audiences in what it means to cross boundaries and fuse cultures while never losing sight of your passion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What America needs, June 5, 2003

By 

Charles W. Rieger (Ft. Myers, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ballad of Bering Strait (DVD)

Bering Strait is the freshest thing to come down the "music road" in a long time.The music business can't understand why there is such a slump in the record sales. If they would concentrate on more groups like this one they might find that record sales would rise! This group has more talent than all those Nashville "cookie cutter" entertainers that are currently on the market. This group has more chemistry together than I ever saw in even the Beatles...These kids are a real breath of fresh air....

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glued To The Screen, January 5, 2004

By 

Zander (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ballad of Bering Strait (DVD)

I thought this documentary was riveting from the first moment it started to the last shot. Fantastic story about these kids from Russia and their struggles and hopes. They are so incredibly talented and charming that you just can't help but care for them - this is also a compliment to the filmmakers who crafted this story with care and great talent. The band members all give such insight into their lives and their dreams, especially Lydia Salnikova (pianist and vocals). A scene where she has dinner with her family in Russia is so poignant - I felt it was the center of this story. Natasha (guitar and vocals) and Ilya (guitar virtuoso and vocals) also provide amazing stories, but as the problems get bigger and bigger Lydia talks about the fear of the struggle so eloquently I felt like it was happening to me. These kids are beautiful and intelligent and incredibly talented - I know there's great things to come from them and I suspect their individual talents will break through too - Ilya's guitar, Lydia's piano and vocals, Sasha's dobro (yes dobro!), Natasha's vocals... you will love this movie and their music!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Strait" Talk, December 31, 2003

By 

Erik North (San Gabriel, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Ballad of Bering Strait [VHS] (VHS Tape)

THE BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT documents the struggles of an enterprising group of young country musicians from Russia to break through with American audiences, leading up to the release of their self-titled debut album. Director Nina Gilden Seavey gives us a solid look at the rise of this hard-working band and gives a particular emphasis on the abilities of lead vocalist/guitarist Natasha Borzilova and instrumental virtuoso Ilya Toshinsky. The band's self-titled debut album was one of the best albums to be released in 2003, with "Bearing Straight", a track from that album, coming very close to winning a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance. And after you see THE BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT, you too will see the reason why these young musicians are worth rooting for.