Review of Autumn Marathon

Autumn Marathon is a comedy that depicts the life of Andrey Buzykin, who belongs to the Soviet intelligentsia. He works as an instructor at the university and a translator; he also lives in a nice apartment. Moreover, Andrey has a wife, a daughter, a mistress, and friends. His life seems perfect; however, he does not enjoy it. He tries to please everyone by devoting his time to them and by agreeing to satisfy their requests. People, realizing that he is a conformist, manipulate him to achieve their goals. Buzykin, in his attempt to keep up with everything, does not have time to stop and think about his desires, nor can he figure out whether his wife or mistress is more important for him. It is humorous to watch how he is in a hurry and constantly lying, which makes his relationship with surrounding people more tangled; moreover, he is not able to resolve the situation.

Despite the fact that is it a comedy, this movie brings up vital issues about values in an individual's life. It makes one stop and think about the things that are significant for him/her. What is more, Autumn Marathon, through its satirical presentation, critiques conformity, for it makes life more complicated.

In addition, this film is interesting from a historical point of view as it represents life in USSR. It shows single-family and communal apartments, the metro, and the streets of Leningrad. It also depicts popular activities in the Soviet county: the culture of drinking vodka and mushroom picking.