It's immediately clear why White Sun of the Desert has earned a place in history as one of the best Russian films of all time. It is an excellent blend of comedy, drama, and action.
The film opens up with a contrasting set of scenes between the main character's homeland and the desert he is currently in. In a matter of seconds, we understand why Sukhov is frustrated at his situation, and sympathize with him when he screams how badly he wants to leave. Excellent camera-work helps convey this. Indeed, when we are in the desert with Sukhov, time seems to pass more slowly. When he finds Sayid, we pause with Sukhov before giving him water, and even more until digging him up. Meanwhile, as soon as Sukhov is dreaming, music picks up and we feel his happiness. Along with music, there is excellent lighting, which really comes out as Sukhov is talking to the museum curator. The camera does a fine job capturing scenes under the sun, and views actors from perfect angles.
What I loved was that the film never took itself too seriously. When Vereschagin. refuses to eat his caviar, he looks more like a child than the famous Vereschagin. He's much more real afterwords, having shown us both noble and amusingly silly parts of his character. At the same time, this does not mean he cannot be admired; his final fight is one of strongest moments in the adventure, and we cannot help but cheer for him.
Perhaps my favorite part of this movie is its ending. There is the sadness of Vereschagin's death, true, and we aren't sure if Sukhov makes it back home, but the overall feeling is still happy, and hopeful. The audience is encouraged to believe that whatever happens to Sukhov, he has already won. I preferred this much more than the blatantly sad ending of Ivan's Childhood, or the uncertain finale of Commissasar. It is the film's strongest suit; Sukhov might very well die before getting to see Katerina again, but it would only be a death in the literal sense. In the more noble figurative sense, he is already triumphant, and will live on forever in the minds of the people he saved. The movie is a must-see because it achieves this level of nobility in its main character, while maintaining an action-plot and comical side-characters.
The film opens up with a contrasting set of scenes between the main character's homeland and the desert he is currently in. In a matter of seconds, we understand why Sukhov is frustrated at his situation, and sympathize with him when he screams how badly he wants to leave. Excellent camera-work helps convey this. Indeed, when we are in the desert with Sukhov, time seems to pass more slowly. When he finds Sayid, we pause with Sukhov before giving him water, and even more until digging him up. Meanwhile, as soon as Sukhov is dreaming, music picks up and we feel his happiness. Along with music, there is excellent lighting, which really comes out as Sukhov is talking to the museum curator. The camera does a fine job capturing scenes under the sun, and views actors from perfect angles.
What I loved was that the film never took itself too seriously. When Vereschagin. refuses to eat his caviar, he looks more like a child than the famous Vereschagin. He's much more real afterwords, having shown us both noble and amusingly silly parts of his character. At the same time, this does not mean he cannot be admired; his final fight is one of strongest moments in the adventure, and we cannot help but cheer for him.
Perhaps my favorite part of this movie is its ending. There is the sadness of Vereschagin's death, true, and we aren't sure if Sukhov makes it back home, but the overall feeling is still happy, and hopeful. The audience is encouraged to believe that whatever happens to Sukhov, he has already won. I preferred this much more than the blatantly sad ending of Ivan's Childhood, or the uncertain finale of Commissasar. It is the film's strongest suit; Sukhov might very well die before getting to see Katerina again, but it would only be a death in the literal sense. In the more noble figurative sense, he is already triumphant, and will live on forever in the minds of the people he saved. The movie is a must-see because it achieves this level of nobility in its main character, while maintaining an action-plot and comical side-characters.