Customer Reviews

Oci ciornie [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reviewers of the DVD version of this superb movie complain that it is only in Russian with no sub-titles. Be advised that that is NOT the case here: this VHS version is sub-titled in English all the way through.

It's a wonderfully poignant/funny/sad movie, too. It starts off on a steamship, circa 1910, and two elderly men are talking. One of them, Pavel (played by Vsevolod Larionov), is on his honeymoon; the other, Romano (Marcello Mastroianni), begins telling the story of his life. Here begins a long flashback.

He was once an idealistic architect from a poor family who married a very rich banker's daughter. No longer in need of money he shelves his career and lives the life of dalliance. While at a spa, which he often frequents alone to chase after women, he meets a young Russian woman, Tina (Marthe Keller), who is also married. They fall madley in love, but duty and conscience cause her to flee back to Russia. Mastroianni realizes he can't live without her, and on the pretext of business, goes to Russia to look for her.

He finally finds her and they agree to separate from their spouses. He hurries back to his wife, but at the last minute is unable to tell her about Tina. He goes back to his old dallying ways and his marriage disintegrates. After that happens he becomes a waiter on the steamship (flashback ends). Guess what? The woman Pavel is on his honeymoon with is Tina! But what happens next? We are left guessing.

The telling of the flashback, which is based on a number of Chekhov stories, is fascinating, riveting in fact. The story is rich in the details of life and the nature of love. Seeing Mastroianni fail in his attempt to tell his wife about his love for Tina and his resigning himself to his fate, is heartbreaking (and played marvelously by Mastroianni). And the surprise with Tina is a real knockout. Beautifully photographed by Franco Di Giacomo in Italy and Russia. A breathtakingly wonderful movie. Definitely worth a watch.

Beautiful story, so tender, so natural. A great film for all times and a very good souvenir from Marcello Mastroianni.
Many people were waiting for this DVD but we hope for a new release in NTSC sytem with subtitles in different languages.

Filmed with all the light and lushness of the
Merchant-Ivory period pieces, this is far more
insightful and sophisticated, loaded wih wit and
a good sense of story. Marcello Mastroianni
is Romano, a charming and imaginative soul who
married into a wealthy family. When his wife's
fortune is threatened, he runs off to a spa
where he wins the heart of a beautiful young
married Russian woman.

The affair turns into love and she flees.
Romano, smitten by her unavailability, follows
her to Russia. What happens next is a comic
drama of character, a wonderful mixture of the
high-blown and the prosaic.

Based on stories by Chekhov and brilliantly
directed by Nikita Mikhalkov, Dark Eyes is a
movie for those who are ready to check out of
a room with a view and into one with a few
good ideas.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE
and the forthcoming novel, bang-BANG from Kunati Books.

The actress that Marcello Mastroianni meets at the spa is Yelena Safonova.