New East Symposium
Close to Eden
France/USSR: Camera One, Studio TriTe, Hachette, Pyramide, 1991 Color, 118 minutes Russian with English subtitles Director: Nikita Mikhalkov Producer: Michel Seydoux Screenplay: Nikita Mikhalkov, Rustam Ibragimbekov Music: Eduard Artem'ev Cinematography: Vilen Kaliuta Cast: Vladimir Gostiukhin, Badema, Bayaertu, Baoyinhexige,
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In comparison to the Mongols, Russians are represented in Mikhalkov's film as being less strong and patient: Sergei's wife complains about her life in China; his daughter is upset that there are no Russian children for her to play with; Sergei himself on many occasions has to rely on help and support from his Mongolian friends. Another Russian, whom Sergei meets at the restaurant, is portrayed in the film as dishonest and mercenary, "selling" his tradition and culture for a couple of yen and not respecting the Russian past. There are numerous references in the film to the past of the Mongols. Combo tries to pass on Mongolian culture to his son by reciting stories and legends about the Mongol tribe. The couple names their fourth son Tamulin in honor of Genghis Khan's birth name. At one point, Genghis Khan and his horde even appear in Combo's dreams to question him about his Mongolian identity. The Mongolian urga—a special pole with a lasso for catching wild horses and runaway livestock—plays an important role in By the end of the film, however, the land where the Mongolian family used to live is disfigured by ugly roads and the urga has been replaced by a chimney. Pagma and Combo's fourth son, Tamulin, narrates his own life story. He tells about his work at a gas station and his travel to Russia. He has been assimilated by other cultures and all that is left of his Mongolian background is his language. Nikita Mikhalkov Nikita Mikhalkov is one of the most famous Russian filmmakers and actors. He has won a number of awards at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, as well as an Academy Award for his 1994 film Burnt by the Sun. He was born in 1945 into the family of Soviet poet and playwright Sergei Mikhalkov. In 1963 he had began to study acting at the Shchukin School. While still a student, he took part in Georgii Daneliia's film I Walk in Moscow (1964). Mikhalkov graduated from All-Union State Institute
1974 At Home among Strangers, a Stranger at Home |
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explicitly to nostalgic feelings about heaven located far from Western civilization. The family of farmers, Combo and Pagma, live in a
Mikhalkov shot his film in Inner Mongolia, which now belongs to China, and for the cast he chose native Mongolians. His interest in this part of the world may be read as a flashback into Russian history: long ago Russia was conquered by the Tatar—Mongols and since then these two ethnicities have been perceived by Russian people as cruel, barbarian, and wild.
steppes, the hospitable Mongols show their cordiality by killing one of their sheep, preparing a nice dinner for their guest and sharing vodka with him. The generosity and sincerity of the Mongols is represented in the scene when Combo bails Sergei out of jail for singing a waltz about Russian soldiers at a Chinese restaurant.
for Filmmaking in 1971. In 1993 he was elected president of the Russian Cultural Foundation and since 1997 he has been President the Russian Union of Filmmakers.